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August 2024

Robotic Assisted Surgeries (RAS)

• surgical procedure that uses a robotic device under the guidance of a trained surgeon.
• RAS employs a video-game-like console, usually within the operation theatre, where the surgeon sits with special eyeglasses to look at a monitor showing magnified 3D layouts and regulates the surgical procedure by moving his arms and fingers.
• The enhanced magnification and dexterity of robotic surgery, according to surgeons, enables them to easily perform the procedure in areas of the body, which are difficult to reach. Simultaneously, for patients, it translates into less pain, minimal blood loss and quick recovery.
• According to Dr Vivek Bindal, chairman of India’s Clinical Robotic Surgery Association—a network of over 200 such surgeons—robots let surgeons perform with such precision that is neither possible through open surgery nor laparoscopy, though a lot depends on the surgeons’ skills.
• Nearly 60,000 robotic-assisted surgeries are now being performed by over 1,500 surgeons in India every year across specialities, such as general surgery, oncology, urology, nephrology, pulmonology, cardiology, gynaecology and joint surgeries, among others.

Direction from IRDAI

• in 2019, when the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) ruled that all health insurance companies are required to cover robotic surgeries as modern treatments.
• not all insurance packages provide coverage for robotic surgeries yet, and given the limited expanse of health insurance in the country, cash-paying patients opt for methods that best suit their pockets, even if they come at the cost of comfort.

Indian surgical robots' market value

• According to a recent report by Grand View Research, the Indian surgical robots’ market was valued at approximately $200 million in 2022 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 12 percent from 2023 to 2030.

Growing rapidly

• Healthcare industry insiders say that between 2002 and 2019, hospitals in the country saw installation of just about 50 robotic systems. But this number has grown to over 300 now and is rising every month.
• While RAS is gaining popularity in mega cities, its adoption is rapidly taking flight in Tier 1 and 2 cities, too.

Reasons why people opt for RAS

• Higher precision,
• lesser pain to patients,
• lower blood loss and
• faster recovery
• [*] “The demand is growing quickly because of the many advantages it offers.”

Reasons for people not opting

• exorbitant cost, estimated around 15 - 20 crores rupees Print

June 2025

Gadget increases the risk of hearing loss

• Gadgets like mobile phones, earphones, head phones, high volume speakers and television increase the risk of hearing loss in youth.
• Noise induced hearing loss is a major neglected public health challenge
• Listeners should be careful to not to use ill fitting personal audio devices
• Sometimes, medicines including antibiotics, anti malarial drugs, diuretics, and cancer medicines and conditions including hyper tension, diabetes, abnormal cholesterol, obesity, infective meningitis, and measles could also lead to deterioration in hearing.
• When people used a cotton bud, it could damage the delicate skin of the ear canal, and may cause infection earache, and tinnitus and they also risked puncturing eardrum
• People should avoid long exposure to high decibel sounds. ¹

References