India’s first robot-assisted kidney transplant programme brings hope, precision, healing

Bengaluru: In a transformative leap for Indian healthcare, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, has unveiled the Total Robot Enabled and Assisted Transplant (TREAT) programme —India’s first-of-its-kind robotic kidney transplant initiative.

TREAT redefines the landscape of organ transplants by combining cutting-edge robotic technology with a human-centric approach that prioritizes not just patients, but donors too.

In a country where kidney failure claims thousands of lives each year and donors often go unacknowledged, TREAT steps in as a bold, compassionate game-changer.

With the successful execution of simultaneous robotic surgeries on both donor and recipient, Fortis has placed India on the global map for high-precision, minimally invasive transplant procedures.

This marks a clinical milestone — never before achieved in the country.

Two robots, one goal: Healing lives

Unlike conventional transplant methods, the TREAT programme uses dual robotic surgical systems operating in tandem — one dedicated to the donor, the other to the recipient. This innovation enables maximum precision, reduces blood loss, ensures faster recovery, and drastically minimizes pain and scarring.

“TREAT is not just technology — it’s trust, teamwork, and transformation. It allows us to take on complex, high-risk cases that many others would turn away,” said Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy, Principal Director – Renal Sciences, Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru.

Real stories of courage and care

The TREAT programme has already changed lives:

• Joachim and Amodeus (Tanzania): Joachim, 47, suffering from kidney failure and heart issues, had been turned away by multiple hospitals. His younger brother Amodeus volunteered to donate his kidney. On May 19, the TREAT team at Fortis performed a complex robot-assisted transplant. Amodeus was up on his feet within a day; Joachim’s kidney started functioning immediately. Today, they prepare to return home, carrying not just better health, but hope for thousands like them.
• Sana and Chand (Bijapur): Sana, 35, faced a double blow — end-stage kidney failure and an incompatible blood type with her only donor, her brother. Rejected elsewhere, the siblings found hope at Fortis. After antibody-reduction therapy, the TREAT team performed a dual-robot transplant on May 5. Sana’s recovery was swift, and her new kidney began working within days. What once seemed impossible became a triumph of medicine and determination.

Revolutionizing transplants —with compassion

In India, where most living kidney donors are women, TREAT recognizes their sacrifices. The programme is structured to equally value donor health and dignity, ensuring minimal discomfort, fewer hospital days, and quicker return to everyday life.

“TREAT is a revolution in more ways than one,” said Dr. Ritu Garg, Chief Growth and Innovation Officer, Fortis Healthcare Ltd.

“It’s not just about technology — it’s about transforming lives with empathy. We’re giving people back their futures.”

TREAT also caters to patients who were earlier considered too risky for surgery — those with obesity, prior surgeries, multiple anatomical variations, or complex medical conditions. Thanks to robotic precision, these individuals now have access to life-saving transplant options once considered out of reach.

Setting a new benchmark in transplant care

Dr. Keshavamurthy added, “TREAT enables safe donations from challenging cases — right-sided kidneys, obese donors, multiple arteries, or previous abdominal surgeries. It reduces pain, protects body image, and empowers families with a sense of safety and dignity.”