Bengaluru, June 26, 2025 – Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru, has achieved a significant clinical milestone with the launch of its pioneering Total Robot Enabled and Assisted Transplant (TREAT) program. This initiative represents a major advancement in robot-assisted kidney transplantation, highlighted by India’s first successful simultaneous robotic surgeries for both a kidney donor and recipient.
The TREAT program integrates an advanced robotic surgical ecosystem with patient-centric protocols to enhance clinical outcomes, particularly in complex kidney transplant scenarios. By employing two robot-assisted systems concurrently—one for the donor and one for the recipient—the program significantly reduces trauma, accelerates recovery time, and elevates surgical precision to unprecedented levels.
Prioritizing Donor Health and Expanding Patient Access
A key innovation of the TREAT program is its equal emphasis on donor health, especially crucial in India where most living kidney donors are women who manage multiple roles. TREAT is designed to minimize donor discomfort, shorten hospital stays, and facilitate a quicker return to daily life, all while maintaining surgical excellence.
Furthermore, TREAT broadens surgical options for recipients with co-morbidities like obesity, a history of previous transplants, or complex anatomical challenges, who previously had limited choices. Robotic precision now makes life-saving procedures accessible to these patients, procedures once considered too risky or unfeasible.
Life-Changing Outcomes: Real Patient Stories
The success of the TREAT program is evident in several recent cases:
Joachim (47, Tanzania): Suffering from kidney failure due to diabetes and facing heart and high blood pressure issues, Joachim was turned away by many hospitals. His brother, Amodeus, stepped forward as a donor. On May 19, 2025, a robot-assisted transplant was performed under the TREAT program. Amodeus regained mobility within 24 hours, and Joachim’s kidney function improved immediately, allowing both to return to Tanzania in good health.
Sana (35, Bijapur): With end-stage kidney failure and an incompatible blood type with her brother Chand, Sana had been refused by multiple hospitals. At Fortis Hospital, under the TREAT program, Sana underwent antibody-reduction treatment followed by a complex dual robot-assisted transplant on May 5, 2025. This procedure, involving two robotic systems simultaneously, showcased TREAT’s advanced capabilities. Sana’s kidney began functioning within days, and both siblings recovered well within a week, demonstrating a remarkable outcome in a previously inoperable case.
Chowdenahalli (59, Bengaluru): Faced with end-stage kidney disease due to diabetes and hypertension, Chowdenahalli’s wife, Leelavathi, selflessly offered to donate. Given his complex medical history, many hospitals were hesitant. However, on May 24, 2025, under the TREAT program, both underwent simultaneous robot-assisted surgeries. Leelavathi was discharged in just four days, and Chowdenahalli’s kidney function improved significantly, allowing the couple to recover together at home.
Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy, Principal Director – Renal Sciences, Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru, stated, “The TREAT program marks a paradigm shift in kidney transplant care. While the spotlight often rests on the recipient, this program places equal emphasis on the donor—particularly in India, where women are the backbone of most donor-recipient families. TREAT enables safe donation from right-sided kidneys, obese donors, kidneys with multiple arteries or anatomical variations, and even those with prior surgeries. By minimizing surgical pain, hospital stay, and emotional stress, TREAT sets a new benchmark in how we care, treat, and heal. With minimal scarring and maximum precision, it restores body image, preserves dignity, and empowers families through a safer, faster, and more compassionate transplant journey.”
Mr. Akshay Oleti, Business Head, Fortis Hospitals Bengaluru, added, “At Fortis, innovation goes beyond technology; it’s about transforming outcomes with empathy and precision. The TREAT program embodies this philosophy by making kidney transplants safer, quicker, and accessible even in complex cases. We’re not just improving survival rates; we’re helping patients reclaim their lives. That’s the true impact of TREAT.”
