Max Institute of Laparoscopic, Robotic, Bariatric Surgery & GI Surgery has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Intuitive Surgical to strengthen surgeon capability, develop structured training pathways, and support the adoption of robotic-assisted surgery across common and complex procedures. The collaboration aims to expand patient access to robotic-assisted surgery across India.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Pradeep Chowbey, Group Chairman of Max Institute of Laparoscopic, Robotic, Bariatric Surgery & GI Surgery, David J. Rosa, Chief Executive Officer of Intuitive, and Rohitt Mahajan, Vice President and General Manager of Intuitive India.
Dr. Chowbey referred to the need to move robotic-assisted surgery from selective use in complex cases to wider and systematic adoption in commonly performed operations, and outlined the role of the MoU in supporting this transition. Drawing on his experience in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery, Dr. Chowbey stated, “The true success of robotic-assisted surgery lies in its potential for scale. For any innovation in medical technology to truly make a difference in patient lives, it must move beyond selective adoption in limited settings and become an integral part of everyday surgical practice. With the right training infrastructure and safety standards in place, robotic-assisted platforms such as da Vinci can contribute meaningfully to the safety and efficiency of even routine procedures.”
The collaboration brings together Intuitive’s experience in robotic-assisted surgery and Max Institute’s clinical role to establish structured outcome benchmarks for routine surgical procedures. By addressing both complex and commonly performed surgeries, the initiative seeks to demonstrate how robotic systems can support precision, standardisation and efficiency across a broader range of procedures, with the aim of supporting consistent patient outcomes and patient access.
Commenting on the collaboration, Rohitt Mahajan, Vice President and General Manager, Intuitive India, said, “At Intuitive, patient outcomes are central to everything we do. We remain focused on advancing minimally invasive care through structured training, responsible adoption, and close clinical collaboration. This MoU with the Max Institute of Laparoscopic, Robotic, Bariatric Surgery & GI Surgery, led by Dr. Pradeep Chowbey, reflects a shared commitment to expanding robotic-assisted surgery in general surgery supporting surgical teams to reduce variability in outcomes by delivering consistent, high-quality care across both complex and more commonly performed procedures.”
The MoU formalises collaboration in clinical research, with surgeons from Max participating in Intuitive-led studies for approved indications, and Intuitive supporting Max-led research through study design, analytics and publication. The partnership also outlines plans for a Centre of Excellence to build clinical and economic evidence for robotic-assisted surgery, with the aim of supporting decision-making by hospitals and healthcare systems and contributing over time to insurance frameworks to address financial barriers and enable broader patient access where clinically appropriate.