Professor Prokar Dasgupta Visits Gibraltar as Telesurgery Programme Expands
The pioneering robotic surgeon delivered a presentation at St Bernard’s Hospital on artificial intelligence, remote surgery and the future of healthcare in Gibraltar.
Professor Prokar Dasgupta, the internationally recognised urological and robotic surgeon who has operated remotely from London on patients in Gibraltar, has made his first visit to the Rock. Members of Prostate Cancer Gibraltar joined healthcare professionals and other attendees for his presentation on the possibilities—and responsibilities—of robotic surgery and artificial intelligence.
Meeting the Gibraltar community behind the programme
Although Professor Dasgupta had already performed three telesurgeries on patients at St Bernard’s Hospital, this was the first time he had visited Gibraltar in person.
Joe Holliday, Chairman of Prostate Cancer Gibraltar, was among those who met Professor Dasgupta during the visit. Other committee members of the charity attended his presentation, reflecting PCG’s continuing interest in the development of advanced treatment options for patients on the Rock.
Professor Dasgupta praised the contribution made by Gibraltar. He highlighted the trust, close working relationships and ability to bring together clinical teams, administrators, government and community organisations around a shared objective.
“Gibraltar played a huge role.”
Professor Prokar Dasgupta
Joe Holliday (left), Chairman of Prostate Cancer Gibraltar, with Professor Prokar Dasgupta (center), and Doctor Hamsish Thomson (left) during the visit to St Bernard’s Hospital.
Members of Prostate Cancer Gibraltar committee with Professor Prokar Dasgupta.
Three remote prostate operations completed
The telesurgery programme has enabled Professor Dasgupta to control the Toumai robotic surgical system at St Bernard’s Hospital from a console at The London Clinic.
Working with the surgical team in Gibraltar, including Dr James Allan and other GHA professionals, Professor Dasgupta performed prostatectomies in real time while remaining approximately 2,400 kilometres away.
One of the operations was broadcast during a major European urology conference, giving thousands of medical professionals the opportunity to see Gibraltar’s robotic surgery programme in action.
Professor Dasgupta stressed that the quality of patient outcomes—not technology alone—must determine whether telesurgery continues to develop. The reported outcomes from the Gibraltar procedures have been positive.
Expanding beyond prostate cancer
The next stage of the programme is expected to extend the benefits of robotic and remote surgery into further medical specialities, using appropriately qualified specialist surgeons and their clinical teams.
Further live telesurgery
At the time of the visit, another remote operation was being prepared for September 2026 and was expected to be presented to a European conference.
Gynaecological surgery
Plans include extending the telesurgery programme to procedures supporting women’s healthcare, led by surgeons specialising in gynaecology.
Bowel surgery
Robotic bowel surgery is already being carried out locally, with future plans to introduce a remote telesurgery element to this speciality.
Robotic, remote and autonomous surgery are not the same
Professor Dasgupta’s presentation also addressed artificial intelligence and the different levels of control that can be involved in advanced surgery. A robot-assisted operation does not mean that a machine is independently making every surgical decision.
Robot-assisted surgery
The surgeon remains in control of the robotic instruments and camera, normally from a console located in the same operating theatre.
Telesurgery
The surgeon still controls the operation in real time, but the console and patient can be located many kilometres apart.
Autonomous surgery
A machine performs surgical tasks with increasing independence. Fully autonomous complex surgery remains a major technical, clinical and ethical challenge.
“AI should be there to augment our performance.”
Professor Prokar Dasgupta
Community support helped make this progress possible
The robotic surgical system housed within the Kusuma Robotic Surgery Suite was funded in part through the generous support of Kusuma Trust and Prostate Cancer Gibraltar.
PCG also coordinated an important fundraising initiative, approaching corporate sponsors and private donors whose contributions helped the project reach its required funding target.
What began as an investment in better local treatment for men affected by prostate cancer is now supporting the development of robotic surgery across a much wider range of procedures. It demonstrates the lasting difference that collaboration between healthcare professionals, charities, government, businesses and the community can make.
Supporting better prostate cancer care in Gibraltar
Prostate Cancer Gibraltar continues to support awareness, early detection and initiatives that improve care for men and families across our community.
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