In Poland about 15 1000 operations were performed in 2024 utilizing surgical robots. There are besides 5 military medical centers. The advantages and challenges of the fresh field of medicine, and its importance for the army, were discussed at the Military Medical Institute during the National Conference of Robotic Surgery.
The gathering was opened by the Gen. Guns Prof. dr n. med. Grzegorz Gielerak. – Robotic surgery permanently settled in the Polish wellness system. This technology revolutionizes medicine and represents its future," said the manager Military Medical Institute in Warsaw. He stressed that robotics in medicine poses immense challenges and at the same time many questions, e.g. concerning the application of the alleged expanded reality or artificial intelligence. “We want to make robotic surgery safe, accessible to patients and how best it served them,” said the head of WIM.
Further than the head of a doctor
Gen. Grzegorz Gielerak besides pointed out that despite the improvement of technology, it is essential to remember that the success of the surgery is determined not only by the skills of surgeons, but besides by the comprehensive approach to the patient. In a letter to the participants of the meeting, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence referred to this thought. "The evolution of robotic surgery is taking place in our eyes, but it is worth remembering that although the usage of robots is simply a natural step in the improvement of medicine, full robotics will not be able to be carried out without the presence of an operator's doctor" - noted the Deputy Prime Minister. He besides highlighted the advantages of robot treatment. "After robot operations, patients recover more rapidly and the hazard of complications is reduced," stressed the Minister. He besides added that for surgeons operating with robots means greater precision of movement and efficiency of operation. "The greater comfort of the doctor's work, the usage of a three-dimensional operating field, the anticipation to enlarge the image and zoom in the operating structures, and easier access to hard-to-reach places make it possible to carry out robotic treatments at the highest level," argued Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who is simply a doctor of medical science.
The benefits of robotics in surgery were besides discussed by the conference participants: doctors, medical lecturers, infirmary directors, representatives of the Ministry of Health. As was stressed, thanks to the robots both the average time of hospitalization of the patient and the hazard of his return to the infirmary decreases. – On the robotic side there are clinical benefits, lower mortality and faster recovery of patients. At the same time, it must be admitted that the cost of specified a procedure is on average 8 times higher than that of a conventional procedure – the manager of WIM said.
In Poland, most frequently with the aid of robots, prostatectomy is carried out, that is, prostate removal surgery. Filip Urbański, manager of the Department of Quality Monitoring and Optimization of the National wellness Fund, stated that in this case the time of hospitalization is reduced on average by half a day compared to the hospitalization required by the patient after lapascopic surgery. The hazard of re-hospitalisation is little than 16%, and more than 25% little frequently needed blood transfusion. – We are convinced that thanks to robots we offer better quality medicine. This method is chosen for the benefit of the patient and the comfort of the operator's doctor – added Prof. Andrzej Budzyński, PhD from the General Surgery and Oncological infirmary of Rydygier in Krakow.
According to incomplete data of the National wellness Fund, in 2024 14 700 operations were performed in Poland utilizing surgical robots. In 2023, there were over 10,000 specified treatments. Robot operations are performed in private and public centres, and now Polish doctors have almost 70 surgical robots available.
Works in military hospitals
Conference participants besides discussed the improvement of medical robotics in the army. Dr. Dariusz Sobieraj, social advisor to the Minister of Defence for wellness and Social Welfare, reported that a robotic technology improvement squad was appointed in the military wellness service, and specialists from WIM prepared a strategy for the improvement of robotic surgery in the Polish Army. – This is an integral strategy including, among others, human resources training, equipment implementation, financing. It will become a model for civilian wellness services," said Dr. Sobieraj.
According to General Gielerak, the strategy task prepared by WIM is based on military wellness service capabilities and 5 military medical centers: Warsaw, Lublin, Bydgoszcz, Szczecin, Krakow and Wrocław, which have six robots. The strategy takes into account, inter alia, a number of another elements related to the usage of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, as well as aspects relating to the state's broad medical security. This concerns the usage of technology in the armed forces and the implementation of these experiences into the national medical system. “Only in this way are we able to build a resilient state that can effectively usage dual-use technologies,” said Gen. Gierelak. Now, as he said, the strategy is awaiting approval by the Department of Military wellness Service of the MON.
Dariusz Sobieraj added that WIM is 1 of the most crucial robotic medicine centres in Poland. 5 years ago the institute was the first military facility to buy da Vinci jobIn time, it was besides the first infirmary in Poland to have 2 specified devices. During this period, over 2.5 1000 treatments were performed in Szasers Hospital, during which robot support was used. In this way, both soldiers and civilian patients were treated under contracts with the NFZ.
– As the only 1 in Poland, we offer a full scope of operations and treatments utilizing robots in 10 different specialties – said Dr. Jacek Doniec, head of WIM Robotic Surgery Center. The Institute was besides the initiator of the creation of the Polish Group of Robot Surgery, Artificial Intelligence and Telemedicine in February this year. Its aim is to make a registry of medical robotic procedures, to bring about changes in law and to carry out joint investigation work.
Four Pillars
During the discussion, Gen. Gielerak listed the 4 pillars needed to make robotic surgery. These are: a stable, unified training system, technological capital, including cybersecurity and unchangeable links needed in the future to conduct distant treatments. The 4th component is the legal and ethical framework, including common standards for the usage of robotics in medicine.
The manager of WIM besides called for the creation of the main 4 or 5 mention centres in the country, which would be responsible, among others, for implementing robotic surgery in Poland and training programs. Experts besides stressed the request to make a registry of robotic treatments performed in Poland, their results and possible complications. As added by prof. dr n. med. Tomasz Drewa, Head of the General and Oncological Urologia Clinic in the University infirmary No. 1 in Bydgoszcz and the Department of Urologia and Andrology of the Collegium medicine of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, the registry is besides very essential for patients. It's all about knowing which medical center to choose erstwhile they gotta undergo surgery.
Participants of the conference discussed, among others, the prospects of developing robotics in Poland, the refund of robotic procedures by the NFZ. As was said, presently surgical robotics in Poland focuses on specified specialties as urology, gynecology and oncology. In future, precedence areas should be surgery: liver and pancreas, chest, colon and oncological gynecology.
Thanks to the video connection, participants of the gathering could besides follow on screens conducted in the rooms of the Centre for Robotic Surgery treatments, including prostate excision and pulmonary lobe removal.
Honorary patronage of the Second National Conference of Robotic Surgery
Organized by the WIM, Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish took over.
