Thailand Performs First Robotic Telesurgery, Linking Bangkok and Korat to Open Surgical Services in the Northeast

On August 24, 2026, Thailand carried out its first robotic telesurgery. A surgical team at Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital in Bangkok remotely controlled a surgical robot to operate on a patient located at Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital (Korat), more than 250 kilometers away. The launch ceremony for the trial was chaired by Dr. Patthana Bhumiphat, Minister of Public Health, and attended by physicians, nurses, and IT specialists as observers.

This robotic telesurgery was part of a pilot project run by the Ministry of Public Health together with the Medical Technology Center and device developers to test the stability of imaging and command transmission between the controlling physicians in the capital and operating teams at provincial hospitals. The system used high-resolution cameras, real-time robotic control, and multiple redundant communication routes to maintain safety standards in case of network failures.

The project is based on the need to reduce healthcare disparities between urban and rural areas, especially in the Northeast, which has a dense population but lacks specialist surgeons. The trial allows patients in remote provinces to receive advanced surgical care without traveling long distances, reducing risks associated with transfer, lowering costs, and connecting local care teams with experienced central specialists.

Although the pilot’s results were praised, medical experts and academics warned of key obstacles: the reliability of internet and communications in rural areas, certification standards for software safety, training local staff to work with robotic systems, and legal and liability issues in emergencies — for example, who is responsible if complications arise during surgery and how to evacuate a patient to a nearby facility.

As for the impact on people in the Northeast, patients and relatives responded positively. A patient from Nakhon Ratchasima who received care through the pilot said not having to travel to Bangkok reduced stress and costs. Relatives appreciated being able to speak with staff and watch the procedure in real time via video, while resident hospital doctors acknowledged that guidance from Bangkok-based experts through the system helped them learn new techniques more quickly and improved local treatment capacity.

From the perspective of tourism and regional healthcare services, the robotic telesurgery project could enhance the region’s medical image, helping major northeastern provinces such as Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, and Ubon Ratchathani become more modern treatment hubs. This could attract more patients from other provinces and health-minded tourists. To ensure the project’s sustainable progress, investment in communications infrastructure must be expanded, training costs for personnel assessed, and a clear legal framework for telesurgery established so that people in the Northeast receive safe and equitable care comparable to that in large cities.