For most of medical history, a surgeon and a patient obviously had to be in the same room. That assumption is no longer a given in Kuwait.

More than 1,300 robot-assisted procedures have now been carried out across five hospitals and specialist centers. Fifteen were performed remotely, with 12 by surgeons in other countries.

All 15 took place at Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Kidney and Urology Center, which launched its remote program in December 2024. Patients remain at the center, with a medical team at their side, while the surgeon operates over a digital connection. Eight of the international cases were performed from Shanghai, two from Strasbourg and one each from Muscat and Padua.

The operations also run both ways. In September 2025, a Kuwaiti team at Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital operated remotely on a patient at Cruz Vermelha Hospital in Brazil, and a Brazilian team then performed a procedure on a patient in Kuwait. The two procedures spanned 12,034.92 kilometers and were recognized by Guinness World Records for the longest distance between a patient and surgeon.

Remote cases still only account for about 1% of the total. Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital alone has completed 1,145 procedures since launching its program in 2019.

New Jahra Hospital, whose first robotic operation was in April 2025, completed 100 within six months and had reached 155 by September 6, 2026. Farwaniya Hospital also performs robotic surgery, and Chest Diseases Hospital has used the technology in 30 thoracic and 25 cardiac procedures. The figures measure adoption, not clinical outcomes.

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The push comes as Kuwait seeks to strengthen its position as a regional hub for advanced medical services. The Ministry of Health says further growth will require investment in equipment, training, maintenance and digital infrastructure, and that reliable connectivity, data protection and systems that operate safely and consistently are especially important for remote procedures.

Patient consent is part of the process too, with healthcare teams expected to explain how the robotic system works and the potential benefits, risks and alternatives – as well as where the surgeon is located and who is responsible for the patient.