New Delhi: At an event in Gurugram, Rao Narbir Singh, Minister for Industries and Commerce at the Government of Haryana flagged off the MantraM surgical robotic yatra that is headed to Rajasthan as part of a grassroots outreach activity. SSI has developed an affordable, modular surgical robot called Mantra. The MantraM is a bus built on a BharatBenz 1823 chassis, modified to host a robotic surgery training and demonstration unit. Just to be clear, surgeries cannot be conducted within the bus as a mobile operating theatre needs to be much more cleaner, but SSI is working on a variant with such capabilities, along with mobile recovery beds. The purpose of the bus is to get medical professionals, students and the general public familiar with the cutting-edge technology.
The Mantram Bus being flagged off. (Image Credit: SSI Mantra).
The unit is developed indigenously and allows for realtime collaboration to demonstrate the capabilities of the Mantra surgical robotics platform. The bus will use live simulations and interactive training modules to provide a firsthand experience to healthcare stakeholders. As part of the first leg through Rajasthan, the bus will visit SMS Medical College in Jaipur, then move on to AIIMs Jodhpur for participation in RUFCON, then proceed to the Mathura Das Mathur Medial College. The yatra will conclude with a showcase at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Ajmer, before returning to Gurugram. SSI plans to build a few more buses and embark on similar roadshows across India.
Showcasing India’s strength in surgical robotics
Singh said, “It is a matter of immense pride that Haryana is home to SS Innovations, a company leading India’s charge in the global field of surgical robotics. The launch of the SSI MantraM ‘Made in India’ Surgical Robot Yatra is a shining example of our country’s technological and medical innovation. This initiative will not only elevate the standards of healthcare delivery across the nation but also empower doctors and medical institutions in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with cutting-edge tools and training. I commend SS Innovations for their visionary efforts in transforming access to advanced surgical care and putting India on the map as a hub for healthcare innovation.” As everyone cannot travel to see the surgical robot and understand what it is capable of, SSI is making the surgical robot travel to healthcare professionals.
Another view of the interior of the bus. (Image Credit: Aditya Madanapalle/News9).
Founder, Chairman and CEO of SSI said, “SSI MantraM is more than just a mobile robotic training and demonstration unit, it is a national movement to democratise and decentralise access to world-class surgical education and innovation. As it embarks on its multi-city roadshow, it showcases India’s indigenous strength in surgical robotics while breaking geographic barriers to healthcare. Designed to reach underserved and remote regions, the unit is equipped with advanced telecommunication capabilities and is undergoing ongoing research and development for future satellite connectivity, making it future-ready for real-time telesurgeries, even in the most inaccessible parts of the country. At present, the roadshow serves as a first-hand exposure platform, offering doctors and healthcare professionals an opportunity to engage directly with the SSI Mantra system through live demonstrations, hands-on training, and interactive sessions. More than a technological showcase, SSI MantraM offers a vision of a future where advanced robotic surgery is accessible and inclusive, reaffirming SS Innovations’ mission to transform healthcare- one city and one life at a time.”