Manila: The Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center (CGHMC) on Tuesday officially launched the Toumai Endoscopic Single-Port Robotic Surgical System, marking a historic milestone as the first single-port robotic surgical platform introduced in the Philippines. Following official approval from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the acquisition represents a transformative shift in minimally invasive surgery, reinforcing CGHMC's commitment to surgical precision and world-class patient care.
According to Philippines News Agency, the CGHMC president and CEO, Kelly Sia, emphasized the significance of this development in his speech, stating, "The launch of the Toumai Single-Port Robotic Surgical System represents a transformative step in our mission to deliver world-class healthcare. We are proud to be the first in the country to adopt this technology, ensuring that Filipino patients benefit from the latest cutting-edge surgical interventions."
The Toumai system is designed to perform complex urologic, gynecologic, and general surgical procedures through a single 2.5 cm entry point. Unlike traditional robotic surgery, which typically requires three to five separate incisions, this single-port technology allows surgeons to insert multiple flexible instruments and a high-definition camera through one small access point. The system's key features include minimal invasiveness, enhanced recovery, and clinical precision, making it a significant advancement in surgical technology.
Beyond the technical sophistication of the system, CGHMC Clinical Operations and Robocare Surgical Center director Dr. Jason Letran highlighted the core focus of the innovation on the patient's quality of life. He remarked, "At the end of the day, the true purpose of surgical innovation is not simply to build more advanced machines, but to teach complexity about technology for its own sake. The true purpose of innovation is to improve the lives of patients, to reduce suffering, to allow patients to recover faster, to help them return sooner to the people they love."
Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, who attended the launch alongside Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan, expressed his intent to make robotic surgery more accessible to the general public. He noted, "This supports our commitment under the 8 point action agenda to provide safe, quality, affordable patient-centered healthcare services for every Filipino. We will continue to support Chinese General Hospital, I was talking to Dr. Sammy Ang and probably there should be a Z Benefit Package for robotic surgery." Herbosa also indicated his openness to proposals that would make robotic surgery accessible to all PhilHealth members.
