A policy for robotic surgery

Context

• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)has taken cognizance of health insurance policy for robotic and bariatric surgeries.

What is robotic surgery?

• Robotic surgery holds significant promise in the field of healthcare.
• The introduction of such surgeries has made the performance of complicated procedures much easier.
• They allow doctors to perform different types of complex procedures with more precision, flexibility, and control than possible with conventional techniques.
• The benefits of such procedures in India come at a lower cost than in developed nations, making it easily accessible to a larger section of the population.
• Robotic surgeries reduce the trauma caused to the patient by allowing surgery to be performed through small ports or ‘keyholes’ rather than via large incisions.
• This helps in shorter recovery times, with fewer complications and a shorter hospital stay.
• They are minimally invasive, painless and have a bigger cosmetic advantage.

What would be the advantages of the initiative?

• The cost of robotic surgery is very affordable unlike in the U.S., U.K., and Canada.
• Overall, the cost of such procedures in India is pocket-friendly, that too, without compromising on the quality of services and infrastructure.