SOFMEDICA unveils the robotic surgery potential in Hungary

Press Release

The company organized the first event dedicated to market access for robotic surgery, in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Hungary

Budapest, April 28, 2022 – After just one year of local presence in Hungary and reaching local milestones, SOFMEDICA, a leading European provider of life-saving innovative medical technologies meant to fight the main causes of mortality worldwide, has taken important steps in seizing the country’s potential of adopting robotic-assisted surgery using the da Vinci surgical system. The company organized on April 20, in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Hungary, the first event that brought together important hospital administration, healthcare professionals, medical associations and authorities with the aim of discussing the current and future development potential of da Vinci surgery in Hungary.

During the event titled “Patient access to innovation – How can Hungary benefit by adopting Robotic Surgery”, key administration and surgeons of the active da Vinci surgery programs in Hungary have highlighted their early successes, as well as the benefits and importance for the patients of adopting robotic-assisted surgery in cancer-fighting hospitals covering interventions in the fields of general surgery, urology, gynecology, and thoracic surgery. The event also included a hands-on session where the attendees could observe, and test drive the robotic surgery system using models and simulation.

Mr. Nathan Seifert – Senior Commercial Officer, U.S. Embassy states: “Robot-assisted surgery has contributed to a more precise and faster way of executing dangerous-declared surgeries and I’m glad to learn that this technology has finally set its foot in Hungary and will advance the state of healthcare.

SOFMEDICA unveils the robotic surgery potential in Hungary

In Hungary, in less than a year, SOFMEDICA has already initiated two da Vinci robotic surgery programs, which only represent the beginning of the country’s great current potential of 15 systems as of today. The systems installed in Jahn Ferenc Hospital and the National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, allowed more than 70 patients access to da Vinci surgery in Hungary, which translated to numerous benefits for them. The program minimizes the invasiveness of the intervention, and the patient can return to his/her normal life in a maximum of two or three days after surgery, enjoying a quicker recovery. Other benefits that patients can consider are fewer blood transfusions required, less pain, no post-operative complications, and less scarring. For 2022, the company has a plan for 800 more patients to benefit from this cutting-edge technology.

The global potential for robot-assisted surgery using the da Vinci systems is growing exponentially year after year, with more than 10 million surgeries completed to date, out of which 1.5 million have been completed in 2021 only.

“The laparoscopic experience significantly shortens the achievement of the learning curve and the performance of truly quality surgery,” said Prof. Dr. Tenke Péter.

Prof. Dr. Rényi-Vámos Ferenc, Head of the Thoracic Center at National Institute of Oncology and Director of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Semmelweis University, noted that he was very hopeful that they would soon be able to use this advanced technique in thoracic surgery as well.

Prof. Dr. Szijártó Attila noted that it is extremely important for Semmelweis University to be able to use the most advanced technology in both education and patient care.

The da Vinci system provides a maximum of benefits for surgeons, as well. First and foremost, the robotic-assisted system works as an instrument in perfecting the excellent work a surgeon can perform. Along with the sharp level of precision and visibility in the most complex scenarios, the system offers the required comfort for the surgeons so that they can focus on the most important movements.

SOFMEDICA unveils the robotic surgery potential in HungaryMoreover, with training being an important part of its value proposition, SOFMEDICA also plans to train around 50 surgeons by the end of 2022 in Hungary, within its comprehensive framework for the development of healthcare professionals, ISLE Academy (Innovation, Simulation, Learning, Ecosystem). As a result, the company is considering and evaluating the investment of an estimated 3.5 million Euro in a permanent ISLE Academy-branded training center in Budapest, besides the already existing ones in Athens and Bucharest and, for this purpose, it is in discussions with several interested parties as potential partners.

SOFMEDICA – Life Saving Innovation is a member of SOFMEDICA Group, an education-oriented Group of Companies focused on Healthcare, operating in Europe (Romania, Greece, Hungary, Bulgaria and Cyprus) since 1994 and actively participating in numerous initiatives aimed at creating sustainable change for its patients. Besides, SOFMEDICA provides a unique portfolio of innovative medical technologies to the Hungarian market, complete with continuous and reliable clinical and technical support.