Tunisia: A Historic First for Robotic Digestive Surgery

On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis successfully performed the very first robot-assisted digestive surgery in Tunisia. This pioneering operation marks a new era for Tunisian medicine, introducing cutting-edge techniques that had previously been little used in the country.

Background and course of the procedure

The procedure involved a 38-year-old female patient suffering from a biliary condition, who underwent removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) in 45 minutes. The team from General Surgery Department “B”, under the direction of Ramzi Nouira, used a robotic system recently installed in the hospital’s operating theater.

The equipment was acquired as part of a Tunisian-Korean partnership; a Tunisian team received training in South Korea, while a Korean delegation handled installation and on-site training.

Why robotic digestive surgery?

Robotic surgery allows very high precision in surgical movements and reduces bleeding, complications, and hospital stay. It is particularly useful in complex procedures: liver, colon, and biliary resections, as well as oncologic surgery.

In Tunisia, this advance makes it possible to move from standard laparoscopic surgery to more sophisticated procedures, thereby strengthening national capacity in high-level surgical care.

Impact on the Tunisian health system

This success is not only important technically, but also a significant signal for Tunisia’s attractiveness in the healthcare field. It may encourage the training of specialized surgeons, the development of modern infrastructure, and possibly the welcoming of patients from abroad (medical tourism).

Moreover, introducing robotic technologies in public hospitals could help reduce waiting times, improve surgical outcomes, and lower long-term costs through fewer complications.

Challenges and outlook

Despite this success, several challenges remain: the high cost of robotic equipment, the need for specialized maintenance, ongoing training of medical and paramedical teams, and the integration of these technologies into existing hospital departments.

In the future, the hospital plans to extend the use of the surgical robot to other, more complex digestive procedures, such as partial resection of the liver or colon.