—GPHC completes historic multi-speciality surgery week, pioneering robotic procedures across four medical disciplines
THE successful completion of a series of first-of-its-kind robotic surgeries has positioned Guyana as the pioneer of a multi-speciality robotic surgery programme in the English-speaking Caribbean, less than two weeks after the technology was officially introduced at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
According to GPHC, a landmark week of robotic surgical procedures conducted between June 1 and June 5, 2026, built on the country’s historic launch of robotic surgery on May 26, which featured the world’s longest robotic telesurgery spanning more than 20,000 kilometres using the SSI Mantra 3 Robotic Surgical System.
The hospital noted that each procedure completed during the week represented a historic first for Guyana and the English-speaking Caribbean, “further positioning Guyana as a regional leader in surgical innovation and advanced healthcare delivery.”
The Urology Department introduced robotic urology on June 1 under the guidance of Consultant Urologist, Dr Rajendra Sukhraj. Two successful procedures, a renal cyst decortication and a varicocelectomy, were performed, marking what GPHC described as a critical breakthrough in minimally invasive urology.
The following day, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology successfully carried out Guyana’s first robotic gynaecological procedures. Dr Padmini Singh performed a bilateral salpingectomy, while Dr Radha Sookraj conducted an ovarian cystectomy, expanding minimally invasive surgical options for women’s health.
On June 3, robotic surgery was introduced in bariatrics, with Dr Bibi Hussain performing Guyana’s first robotic Single Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (SAGB).
The momentum continued on June 4 when additional robotic gynaecological procedures were completed and Dr Jagnanand Ramnarine performed a robotic cholecystectomy, further strengthening the hospital’s general surgery capabilities.
The final day of the programme saw Dr Hemraj Ramcharran conduct a robotic cholecystectomy, while Dr Ramnarine completed an inguinal hernia repair procedure. According to GPHC, both surgeries significantly expanded the scope of the institution’s robotic surgery programme.
The hospital credited the success of the initiative to a multidisciplinary team, including anaesthesiologists, operating theatre personnel, biomedical engineers and international specialists.
Special recognition was given to operating theatre assistants Devonna Bowman and Naomi Roopnarain, who received specialised training in India, and biomedical staff Dervin Bennett and Imran Alli, who assisted with the deployment of the robotic system.
All procedures conducted during the week were supervised by visiting Ecuadorian surgeon Dr Pedro Luis Maldonado, while technical support was provided by representatives of SSI, the manufacturers of the robotic platform.
“In less than two weeks since its official launch, GPHC has managed to incorporate robotic surgery in the departments of Urology, Gynaecology, Bariatric Surgery, and General Surgery,” the hospital said, adding that these achievements have made Guyana “the pioneer of a multi-speciality robotic surgery programme among the countries of the English-speaking Caribbean based on the SSI Mantra 3 Robotic Surgical System.”
