Armenia Performs First Remote Robotic Surgery With Surgeon Operating From Belgium

Armenia has performed its first remote robot-assisted surgery, allowing a surgeon in Belgium to operate on a patient in Yerevan from more than 2,000 miles away.

The procedure took place at Slavmed Medical Center, where a patient diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer underwent surgery to remove the prostate.

Professor Alexandre Mottrie, one of Europe’s leading urologists, performed the operation remotely from OLV Hospital in Aalst, Belgium, more than 3,300 kilometers, or about 2,050 miles, from the patient in Yerevan.

Mottrie controlled the robotic surgical system from Belgium while an Armenian medical team remained inside the operating room with the patient throughout the procedure. Slavmed said the surgery was completed safely and without complications.

The procedure is the first time remote robotic surgery has been performed in Armenia. The technology allows highly specialized surgeons to operate on patients from thousands of miles away, without requiring the doctor or patient to travel.

Slavmed said the surgery was performed using its Toumai MT-1000 robotic surgical system, which includes technology designed for remote operations. The hospital used high-speed internet connections and completed technical preparations to connect and synchronize the systems in Armenia and Belgium.

“From the day we founded Slavmed Medical Center, we have focused on continuous development, innovation and introducing modern medical technologies,” said Armine Hovakimyan, the hospital’s founder. “Performing Armenia’s first remote robotic surgery is an important milestone for our team.”

Dr. Mher Mkrtchyan, head of Slavmed’s Department of Urology, remained inside the operating room in Yerevan throughout the procedure. He said he was prepared to immediately take over the surgery if a technical problem occurred.

“For me, this is an important moment because medicine is beginning to transcend borders,” Mkrtchyan said. “Our patient trusted our clinic and chose this option without hesitation. I was ready to continue the surgery at any moment if necessary, so there was never a risk to the patient’s life or health.”

The hospital said several safety measures were in place during the surgery. If the main communication connection had failed, backup connections would have allowed the procedure to continue without interruption. Engineering and surgical teams in Armenia and Belgium monitored the operation in real time.

Dr. Levon Grigoryan, head of Slavmed’s Robotic Surgery and Endoscopic Services, said the technology could give patients in Armenia access to specialized medical care from international experts while reducing the need to travel abroad for treatment.

“Our goal is to provide every citizen of Armenia with the same level of medical care available at the world’s leading hospitals,” Grigoryan said. “This system brings the expertise of internationally recognized surgeons directly into our operating room. Patients no longer need to spend large amounts of money traveling overseas to receive advanced treatment.”

Mottrie, who also serves as CEO of the Orsi Academy, said successful remote surgery depends on close cooperation between the medical teams on both sides of the connection.

“Slavmed demonstrated that level of coordination and professionalism,” Mottrie said. “By introducing remote robotic surgery, the clinic is opening a new chapter, and I hope my experience can help support its continued success.”

Slavmed was the first medical center in Armenia to introduce robotic surgery and establish a specialized robotic surgery team.

The successful procedure is a new step for robotic surgery in Armenia, giving patients the possibility of receiving specialized care from leading international surgeons without leaving the country.

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