Guyana on Tuesday marked a historic breakthrough in global healthcare after successfully completing what is described as the world’s longest distance robotic telesurgery.

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, during a joint press conference with Barbados’ Prime Minister, Mia Mottley and Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, announced that the landmark procedure was conducted using advanced robotic surgical technology linking Guyana and India across an estimated distance of 20,000 kilometres.

“There is no better way to signal our mark in this Diamond Jubilee than this historic moment,” President Ali stressed.

Internationally renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Sudhir Srivastava remotely performed a coronary artery bypass graft on a patient located in India while operating from Guyana through the SSI Mantra 3 robotic surgical system.

“When we embarked on this journey of robotic surgery, we did not just make an investment to be part of history,” President Ali said. “We made the investment to build a training hub here in Guyana for the entire region.”

The Head of State said Guyana has already secured agreements for an international robotics training hub to be established locally, with healthcare professionals from across the Caribbean expected to benefit from specialised training in the coming months.

Following the historic cardiac telesurgery, a local team led by Guyanese surgeon Dr. Hemraj Ramcharan also completed a robotic hernia repair procedure in Guyana with support from Doctors Bibi Hussain and Jagnanand Ramnarine.

Dr. Ramcharan revealed that local medical teams underwent intensive training in India over the past five weeks in preparation for the milestone event.

“All surgeons dream of getting the latest technology and the best tools for patients,” he said. “We were challenged to complete the first robotic surgery by Independence Day, and today was the big day.”

He noted that the medical team had initially questioned whether the ambitious procedure could be completed within such a short timeframe.

“It was a busy five weeks,” Ramcharan explained. “Everyone was nervous this morning because we knew this would become the longest telesurgery ever attempted.”

President Ali praised the local and international teams involved in the initiative, including technical specialists from SS Innovations, regional medical experts and Guyanese healthcare professionals who participated in the surgeries and robotics programme.

The President said the government’s long-term vision is for Guyana to serve as the regional centre for robotic surgery, with Caribbean countries eventually connected through a network of advanced medical care and training.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony outlined the extensive international and regional collaboration behind the historic achievement, highlighting the role played by the visiting Indian technical and surgical teams alongside local medical professionals.

Anthony said the team from India was led by Dr. Srivastava and included software engineers, robotics specialists, network administrators, clinical experts and technical support personnel from SS Innovations.

The Health Minister further explained that Guyanese cardiac specialists, including Dr. Gary Stephens, Dr. Avalon Jeffrey, and Dr. Pradeep Ramkoomar, were part of the local surgical support team involved in the initiative.