Dr. Vipul Patel, medical director of the Global Robotic Institute at Advent Health in Orlando, Florida, has successfully performed a remote robotic prostatectomy on Fernando da Silva, a 67-year-old cancer patient in Angola. This pioneering surgery, conducted in June 2025, marks the first time a transcontinental robotic telesurgery was performed on the African continent as part of a human clinical trial approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Da Silva was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March and underwent the minimally invasive surgery remotely controlled by Dr. Patel from thousands of miles away using advanced robotic technology. The procedure involved removing cancerous tissue from the prostate, a common cancer in Africa where monitoring and treatment have historically been limited. Dr. Patel noted that this surgery was the culmination of two years of research and global collaboration to identify the right technologies for remote surgical care.
The operation was conducted using fiber optic cables to ensure real-time control with no perceptible delay, while a surgical team in Angola’s Cardeal Dom Alexandre do Nascimento Hospital provided on-site support to intervene if necessary. This milestone demonstrates the potential of robotic telesurgery to expand access to specialized surgical care in underserved regions, including rural communities both internationally and within the United States.
Dr. Patel emphasized the humanitarian implications of this breakthrough, envisioning a future where emergency room physicians and paramedics could access remote surgical expertise, even in ambulances, to provide life-saving interventions. He plans to submit data from this surgery to the FDA to facilitate broader adoption of telesurgery, aiming to revolutionize healthcare delivery and reduce disparities in access to advanced medical procedures.
This achievement also builds on Angola’s recent investments in robotic surgery programs and infrastructure, positioning the country as a leader in digital and robotic medicine in Africa. The successful remote surgery not only offers hope for improved cancer treatment but also sets a new standard for global collaboration in medical innovation.
