Armenia has performed its first-ever remote robotic surgery, with a surgeon in Belgium successfully operating on a patient in Yerevan from more than 3,300 kilometers away, marking a new milestone in the country’s healthcare sector, according to Armenpress.
The landmark procedure was carried out at SlavMed Medical Center in Yerevan using a surgical robot controlled remotely over a high-speed internet connection, allowing the surgeon to operate without ever being in the same country as the patient.
For patients, the breakthrough carries a practical promise: access to the world’s top specialists without the cost and burden of traveling abroad for treatment.
The operation was performed by Professor Alexandre Mottrie — one of the world’s leading urologists, Head of the Urology Department at OLV Hospital in Aalst, Belgium, and Executive Director of the ORSI Academy — who guided the surgical robot from Belgium.
The patient, who had early-stage prostate cancer, underwent a robot-assisted radical prostatectomy that was completed safely and successfully.
The achievement builds on SlavMed’s December 2025 milestone, when it performed Armenia’s first robotic surgeries. This latest procedure marks the country’s first remote robotic operation.
SlavMed founder Armine Hovakimyan said, “From the very first day of SlavMed Medical Center’s establishment, we have chosen the path of continuous development and improvement by embracing modern approaches and innovation. Performing Armenia’s first remote robotic surgery is a landmark achievement for us.”
SlavMed was the first medical center in Armenia to introduce robotic surgery and build a dedicated robotic surgical team. The procedure was made possible by the Toumai MT-1000 robotic surgical system — equipped with Armenia’s only module for remote surgery — and the clinic’s internet infrastructure, which together let surgeons control the robot remotely with precision while ensuring a safe operation. Extensive preparatory work synchronized the robotic systems at the two hospitals.
Mher Mkrtchyan, head of SlavMed’s urology department, remained in the operating room alongside the patient throughout the procedure.
“This is a significant milestone because medicine is beginning to transcend borders. Our patient trusted our clinic and our team and chose this option without hesitation. I was present in the operating room and was ready at any moment to continue the operation immediately if any technical issue arose, so there was never any risk to the patient’s life or health,” Mkrtchyan said.
Beyond Mkrtchyan’s presence in the operating room, patient safety was ensured through multiple layers of protection, including backup communication channels in case of connectivity disruptions, with engineering and surgical teams on standby at both locations throughout the procedure.
Levon Grigoryan, head of SlavMed’s robotic surgery and endoscopic service, said the accomplishment was made possible by a comprehensive remote surgery system.
“Our goal is to ensure that every citizen of Armenia has access to medical care at the level of the world’s leading centers. This system allows the expertise of the world’s top specialists to be present in our operating theaters. It also significantly reduces costs for patients, who no longer need to travel abroad and stay there to receive the same treatment,” Grigoryan said.
Professor Mottrie praised the cooperation between the two medical teams.
“A good collaboration is absolutely mandatory because we have to be fully aligned. SlavMed has ensured this high standard, reaffirming its role as a leading center in the region. By introducing robotic telesurgery, the clinic enters a new era, and I want to bring my knowledge and experience in robotic surgery into your hospital to give it a head start,” he said.
With this achievement, Armenia joins the world’s leading countries that offer remote surgical services, SlavMed said, adding that Armenian patients can now receive world-class surgical care at home, without the need to travel abroad.
Supported by SlavMed’s medical team and its advanced technology, the surgery marks a new frontier in Armenian healthcare — one in which distance is no longer a barrier to the best care in the world.
