Current status and future perspectives in robotic surgery in Asia

Robotic surgery has become a cornerstone in modern minimally invasive surgery, offering enhanced precision, reduced intraoperative trauma, and faster recovery compared to conventional laparoscopic approach. Systems such as the da Vinci platform now support millions of procedures annually worldwide, with adoption expanding rapidly across urologic, gynecologic, thoracic, and general surgical fields. National health systems, notably the NHS in England, are investing in large-scale deployment, aiming to integrate robotics into the majority of keyhole surgeries within the next decade. Recent clinical researches demonstrate improved functional outcomes and broadened clinical scope. Despite these advances, significant challenges remain: high system costs, limited accessibility continue to constrain universal access and efficiency.
Looking forward, integration of artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, and so on is expected to transform robotic platforms into semi-autonomous and eventually autonomous systems capable of performing complex surgical tasks with consistency and safety. Remote telesurgery and global training hubs further promise to extend access to advanced care. Thus, robotic surgery stands at a pivotal stage-shifting from widespread but operator-dependent use toward a future characterized by intelligent assistance, enhanced capability, broader equity of access, and potential paradigm shifts in surgical practice worldwide.