NHS fame Indian Surgeon’s Audacity of comparing SSiMantra with World’s Best was received Well
UK/ India: That SSiMantra, the only ‘Made in India’, best in class surgical robot, is now quite a familiar name in the world of surgical robotics, is given, thanks to its flawless and unprecedented intercontinental telesurgeries. It became more palpable in UK not long ago in June when NHS fame Indian surgeon Dr Bipin Jha made an impactful presentation with SSiMantra in global Congress at Portsmouth.
Dr Jha, after 12-year stint in iconic NHS (National Health Service) of UK, is now in Patna, the capital of his home state Bihar and is training an army of robotic surgeons. Add to it the fact that Dr Jha’s audacity of comparing SSiMantra with the best in the world was received well as well, thanks to its affordability quotient. Dr Jha was also one of the faculty for robotic training course for colorectal surgeons at Portsmouth University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Highlighting the urgent need of affordable Robotics in Colorectal Surgery at Portsmouth Colorectal Congress 2026, Dr Jha made emphasis on the fact that SSiMantra fits the bill, being second to none in quality. Dr Jha, a leading robotic and colorectal surgeon, delivered a compelling presentation, showcasing the potential of an Indian-made robotic platform to expand access to advanced minimally invasive surgery. Dr Jha was mighty happy to find on the sidelines that SSiMantra was already making worldwide forays.
The session, styled as an “IMAX with Popcorn” format , brought together surgeons from around the world to present complex procedures performed on various robotic systems. Dr Jha, who returned to his native Patna, Bihar, last year after an extensive career in the NHS in England, focused his talk on “Colorectal Surgery with Mantra,” the robotic platform developed by SS Innovations.
Having established a new robotic surgery programme at a local Patna hospital earlier this year, Dr Jha shared real-world experience from his recent cases in India. He presented a detailed video of a robotic complete mesocolic excision for a right-sided colon tumor, demonstrating the platform’s capabilities in a technically demanding procedure.
In his address, Dr Jha emphasised the safety profile of the Mantra system and introduced attendees to “Mantrasana,” a new portable console designed to enhance flexibility in surgical settings. He directly compared the Mantra platform with the established Da Vinci Xi system, noting comparable practicality and performance while highlighting its significantly greater affordability — a crucial advantage for patients and healthcare systems in regions like Bihar. The Congress entailed gathering of more than 500 leading colorectal surgeons from across the globe.
The presentation was well received by leading colorectal surgeons in the international audience. Dr Jha concluded with a memorable take-home message that blended clinical wisdom with subtle promotion of the Indian technology: “It does not matter which robotic platform you use, but safety should be the main mantra.”
The talk underscored growing interest in diverse and cost-effective robotic solutions to address global disparities in surgical care, particularly in low- and middle-income settings. As robotic surgery continues to evolve, innovations like the Mantra platform may play an important role in broadening access without compromising outcomes. Other robotic platforms which figured in the congress were were DV5, CMR Versius, Hugo RAS, Shurui, Dexter, Toumai et al.
