Jan 22: Max Institute of Laparoscopic, Robotic, Bariatric Surgery & GI Surgery announced that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Intuitive Surgical, a global technology leader in minimally invasive care and the pioneer of robotic-assisted surgery. This collaboration will focus on strengthening surgeon capability, advancing structured training pathways, and supporting the adoption of robotic-assisted surgery across common and complex procedures, all with the goal of expanding access to robotic-assisted surgery to more patients across India.
The MOU was signed by Dr. Pradeep Chowbey, a world-renowned robotic surgeon and the 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 highlighted the importance of transitioning robotic-assisted surgery from selective application in complex cases toward wider, more systematic adoption in commonly performed operations, and the role he hopes the MOU will play towards achieving this goal.
Drawing on more than four decades of leadership in minimally invasive surgery and extensive experience in robotic-assisted procedures, 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.”
This MOU and subsequent collaboration brings together Intuitive’s global expertise in robotic-assisted surgery and Max Institute’s clinical leadership to establish structured outcome benchmarks for routine surgical procedures. By focusing on both complex and commonly performed surgeries, the initiative aims to demonstrate how robotics can enhance precision, standardisation, and efficiency across a broader range of procedures, supporting more consistent patient outcomes and greater patient access.
Commenting on this collaboration, Rohitt Mahajan, Vice President & 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 Max surgeons participating in Intuitive-led studies for approved indications, and Intuitive supporting Max-led research across study design, analytics, and publication. The partnership also envisages a Centre of Excellence to build clinical and economic evidence for robotic-assisted surgery, supporting informed decision-making by hospitals and healthcare systems and, over time, helping insurance frameworks evolve to reduce financial barriers and enable broader patient access where clinically appropriate.