The Khyber Teaching Hospital in Peshawar has performed a robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery, marking the first such procedure at a public-sector hospital in Pakistan. The milestone represents a notable step in bringing advanced surgical technology into the country’s public healthcare system, which has traditionally had less access to this kind of equipment compared to private hospitals.
The Department of Orthopaedic carried out the operation under the leadership of its Chairman, Associate Professor Muhammad Siraj. Orthopaedic surgeon Prof Awal Hakeem and his team performed the surgery, bringing specialized expertise to the procedure alongside the robotic assistance technology itself. Robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery typically allows surgeons to plan and execute the procedure with greater precision than conventional manual techniques, which can help improve implant positioning and potentially support better long-term outcomes for patients, reducing variability that can occur when a procedure relies solely on a surgeon’s manual judgment.
The procedure was conducted as a live demonstration, allowing orthopaedic surgeons from different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to observe the technique in real time. Conducting the surgery as a live demonstration gave visiting surgeons direct exposure to the robotic assisted technique, offering a practical training opportunity that extends the impact of the procedure beyond the single patient treated during the operation itself. The initiative is expected to create new opportunities for advanced orthopaedic surgery, medical training, education and research in the province, while also strengthening KTH’s position as a leading teaching and tertiary-care institution within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Dean of Khyber Medical College and KTH, Prof Mahmud Aurangzeb, congratulated the department on performing the first robotic-assisted knee replacement in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, describing the achievement as the beginning of a new chapter in robotic surgery, medical training, research and patient care at the institution. Hospital Director Dr Sajjadullah Dawar and Medical Director Dr Awais Naeem also congratulated the department, noting that KTH continues to introduce modern medical technologies and advanced treatment methods to provide quality healthcare to patients.
The hospital leadership said it hopes to expand the use of advanced technology so that the institution can undertake more complex surgical procedures and treatment services going forward. The achievement adds to a broader pattern of Pakistani public sector hospitals gradually adopting more advanced surgical technologies that have historically been concentrated mainly within private healthcare institutions, potentially widening access to higher precision surgical options for patients who rely on public hospitals for their treatment. For orthopaedic patients in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa specifically, having robotic-assisted knee replacement available at a public tertiary-care hospital could reduce the need to seek this kind of procedure through private healthcare providers, where associated costs are typically much higher.
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