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Robots are having a big impact on surgeries in Saskatchewan.
A fourth robot-assisted surgical system is up and running at Saskatoon’s Royal University Hospital. Two other surgical robotic systems are located at Saskatoon’s St. Paul’s Hospital, and another was unveiled at the Pasqua Hospital in Regina in the fall.
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The latest da Vinci Surgical System was introduced at the hospital in December, and since then it has been used in “nearly 20 surgeries,” the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health said, including colorectal and hepatobiliary (liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts) operations.
“With the continued expansion of our robot-assisted surgical program, more patients will have access to minimally invasive surgical procedures that result in quicker recoveries close to home,” Jeremy Cockrill, Saskatchewan’s health minister, said in a statement.
Over the past year, the ministry said 496 robot-assisted surgical procedures have been performed in Saskatchewan, with 438 taking place in Saskatoon and 58 in Regina. In 2025, the provincial government began allocating $2 million in annual funding towards expanding the robotic surgical program even further.
The ministry said the list of procedures performed with the help of the robotic systems “includes everything from common general surgeries, such as hernia repair, to specialized cancer treatment procedures for both male and female reproductive organs, such as proctectomies (prostate removal) and hysterectomies (uterus removal).”
Dr. Michael Kelly, provincial head of surgery for the Saskatchewan Health Authority, said the technology represents “a major advancement in surgical innovation” which will allow for safer, more precise surgeries to performed, and in some cases will lead to faster recovery for patients as well.
“Robotic-assisted surgery strengthens surgical capacity, expands access across the province and reinforces Saskatchewan’s leadership in advanced surgical care,” Kelly said in a statement, adding that,the technology is helping attract and recruit highly skilled surgeons and other team members.
Cockrill expressed his thanks to the Royal University Hospital Foundation, which contributed $150,000 to fund the specialized patient bed that forms part of the new surgical system.
“Our donors have given the RUH surgical team access to this innovative tool, and we are so grateful to them for supporting this advanced technology that raises health care standards for the people of Saskatchewan,” Jennifer Molloy, the foundation’s CEO, said in a statement.
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