Indian hospital chain Max Healthcare has joined forces with Intuitive to build a Total Program Observation (TPO) centre in New Delhi, India, reported The Financial Express.

The companies entered a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to set up the new facility at Max Super Specialty Hospital in Saket, New Delhi, which will support robotic-assisted surgery.

Max Healthcare group medical director Dr Sandeep Budhiraja was quoted by the news publication as saying: “As a part of this collaboration, we are also planning to start a fellowship programme and publish research papers in robotic-assisted surgery.”

To become a TPO centre, the hospital should be a clinical observation site for more than two specialities and include a robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) programme with over three specialities.

In addition, the health system should embrace robotic technology with advanced instrumentation.

Intuitive senior vice-president and chief commercial and marketing officer Henry Charlton said: “TPO centres can be transformative forces for supporting robotic-assisted surgery on a global scale.

“Intuitive expects this collaboration with Max Healthcare in India to have a positive impact on both India and Southeast Asia’s surgical healthcare ecosystem by enabling healthcare professionals across the region to drive advancements in patient care using robotic-assisted surgery.”

The new centre is said to be a first in the region.

It will assist in building a robotic surgical programme that will cover financial feasibility, sustained investment pathways, and establishing a robotic steering committee.