LONDON, MAR 7: A London-based Indian-origin surgeon has pulled off a medical milestone: the UK’s first remote robotic prostate surgeries on patients in Gibraltar, over 2,400 km away.
Professor Prokar Dasgupta, who leads The London Clinic’s Robotic Centre of Excellence, nailed two test cases using the Toumai Robotic System. The latest was a prostatectomy on a 52-year-old patient on Wednesday, following a successful one on February 11. “This is teamwork, international grit, and responsible AI at its best after a year of planning,” he said.
The collaboration with Gibraltar Health Authority and local urologists James Allan and Paul Hughes marks The London Clinic as the national pioneer in robot-assisted telesurgery. Patient Paul Buxton, 62, a long-time Gibraltar resident diagnosed with prostate cancer in January, skipped a London trip. “Why fly when tech lets me stay put? Recovery was a breeze—no overseas hassle,” he shared, calling it a privilege to be first.
With just a 0.06-second lag via 3D cameras, fibre optics, and 5G, the feat could transform care for remote areas. Dr. James Allan noted Gibraltar’s shift from follower to leader: “No more patient travel for top expertise.”
Gibraltar Health Minister Gemma Arias-Vasquez hailed it as a game-changer, backed by grants and investments. The London Clinic plans a live demo at a major urology congress on March 14. NHS eyes wider rollout for various surgeries in its 10-year plan.
