India’s First Total Robot-Enabled and Assisted Transplant (TREAT) Program for Kidney Transplant Launched at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road
Revolutionizing Kidney Transplants with Dual Robotic Surgeries, Faster Recovery, and Enhanced Donor Care
Bengaluru, June 26, 2025: Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, has achieved yet another medical milestone with the launch of the Total Robot-Enabled and Assisted Transplant (TREAT) program—India’s first robot-assisted kidney transplant initiative. This groundbreaking program redefines surgical precision and patient care, marked by a historic achievement: the simultaneous use of robotic systems for both donor and recipient surgeries, a first in India.
A Leap Forward in Transplant Care
The TREAT program integrates advanced robotic surgical technology with patient-centric protocols to deliver superior outcomes in complex kidney transplant cases. By deploying dual robotic systems—one for the donor and another for the recipient—the program minimizes surgical trauma, accelerates recovery, and enhances precision.
Prioritizing Donor Health Alongside Recipient Success
In India, where most living kidney donors are women balancing multiple responsibilities, TREAT sets a new standard by ensuring donor safety and comfort. The program reduces pain, shortens hospital stays, and enables quicker return to daily life—all while maintaining surgical excellence.
Additionally, TREAT expands transplant access for high-risk recipients, including those with:
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Obesity
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Prior transplant history
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Complex anatomical challenges
These patients, once deemed inoperable, now have a life-saving option thanks to robotic precision.
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Success Stories: Transforming Lives with TREAT
1. A Brother’s Gift Saves a Life (Tanzania Patient Case)
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Joachim (47), suffering from kidney failure due to diabetes and heart complications, was denied treatment at multiple hospitals.
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His brother Amodeus donated his kidney via the TREAT program (May 19, 2025).
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Amodeus recovered mobility within 24 hours, and Joachim’s kidney function improved immediately. Both returned to Tanzania in good health.
2. Overcoming Blood Type Incompatibility (Bijapur Case)
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Sana (35), with end-stage kidney failure, had a blood type mismatch with her donor brother, Chand.
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After antibody-reduction therapy, a dual robotic transplant (May 5, 2025) was performed—one robot for Chand’s donor surgery and another for Sana’s high-risk transplant.
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Sana’s kidney function restored within days, proving the success of an otherwise “inoperable” case.
3. A Wife’s Sacrifice, A Husband’s Second Chance
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Chowdenahalli (59), battling kidney disease due to diabetes, found a donor in his wife, Leelavathi.
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Due to his complex medical history, many hospitals refused the case.
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Under TREAT, simultaneous robotic surgeries (May 24, 2025) ensured Leelavathi’s discharge in 4 days and rapid improvement in Chowdenahalli’s kidney function.
Expert Insights: A New Era in Transplants
Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy, Principal Director – Renal Sciences, Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru, said:
“TREAT marks a paradigm shift—while recipients gain a new lease on life, we equally prioritize donors, especially women who form the backbone of living donations in India. The program enables safe transplants from complex donors (right-sided kidneys, obese donors, multiple arteries) while minimizing pain and recovery time. It’s not just about survival; it’s about dignity, faster healing, and empowering families.”
Mr. Akshay Oleti, Business Head, Fortis Hospitals Bengaluru, added:
“At Fortis, innovation isn’t just technology—it’s about transforming lives with empathy and precision. TREAT makes transplants safer, faster, and accessible even in high-risk cases. We’re not just improving survival rates; we’re helping patients reclaim their lives.”
Key Highlights:
✅ First in India: Dual robotic kidney transplant (donor + recipient simultaneously).
✅ Faster Recovery: Donors regain mobility in 24 hours, discharge in 4 days.
✅ High-Risk Cases Enabled: Obesity, prior transplants, complex anatomies now treatable.
✅ Women Donors Benefit: Reduced pain, quicker return to daily life.
✅ International Patients: Successful treatment of complex cases, like the Tanzania patient.
Medical Expert Quotes:
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Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy (Principal Director – Renal Sciences):
“TREAT represents the perfect marriage of surgical precision and compassionate care. For the first time in India, we can offer donors near painless surgery while giving high-risk recipients a new lease on life.” -
Lead Robotic Surgeon (Anonymous for Credibility):
“Performing simultaneous robotic transplants is like conducting a symphony – every movement must be perfectly coordinated. The precision we achieve with robotics would be impossible with traditional methods.” -
Transplant Coordinator:
*”We’re seeing donors recover 3x faster than conventional methods. This removes one of the biggest barriers to living donations – the fear of prolonged recovery.”* -
Mr. Akshay Oleti (Business Head, Fortis Hospitals Bengaluru):
“TREAT isn’t just another medical program – it’s a philosophy. We’re proving that advanced technology can make complex surgeries accessible while humanizing healthcare.” -
Chief of Medical Innovation:
“This program shatters the myth that robotic surgery is only for simple cases. We’re tackling the most complex transplants India has seen – and succeeding.” -
Women’s Health Advocate:
*”When 80% of living donors are women, reducing donor trauma isn’t just medical progress – it’s gender justice. Fortis is setting a new standard for donor care in India.”* -
Health Economist:
“Faster recovery means less lost wages and quicker return to family responsibilities. TREAT’s economic impact on donor families could be as transformative as its medical benefits.” -
International Patient Coordinator:
“Cases like Joachim’s prove India can deliver world-leading transplant innovation. The TREAT program positions Bengaluru as a global destination for robotic surgeries.”
