In a landmark medical advancement, the Department of Surgery at Command Hospital (Eastern Command) has successfully performed the first Virtual Reality Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery (VRALS) in the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), marking a significant leap in cutting-edge patient care.
The pioneering procedure represents the successful integration of Virtual Reality (VR) with minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, enabling surgeons to operate with enhanced precision, depth perception, and spatial awareness. The advanced VR interface allows improved ergonomics and real-time intra-operative decision-making, thereby optimising surgical outcomes.
Medical experts highlighted that VR-assisted surgery significantly reduces surgeon fatigue, improves hand–eye coordination, and enhances overall procedural efficiency, particularly during complex and prolonged laparoscopic interventions. The technology also contributes to greater accuracy and safety, benefiting both surgeons and patients.
The achievement underscores the AFMS’ commitment to adopting advanced medical technologies and maintaining world-class standards of healthcare for serving personnel, veterans, and their families. It also reinforces Command Hospital (Eastern Command), Kolkata’s role as a leader in innovation, research, and excellence within the military medical ecosystem.
This milestone is expected to pave the way for wider adoption of VR-assisted surgical techniques across Armed Forces hospitals, further strengthening India’s military healthcare capabilities.
