The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Exoskeletons
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Markets
    • Agriculture
    • Healthcare
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
    • Security
  • Financial
    • Investments
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Earnings
  • Resources
    • Careers
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Issues
    • Publications
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
      • Robotics Business Review
    • RBR50 Winners 2022
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
    • Leave a voicemail

Report: Intuitive Surgical won’t sell in Pakistan until da Vinci devices back on line

By Brad Perriello | June 30, 2017

Intuitive SurgicalIntuitive Surgical (NSDQ:ISRG) is reportedly refusing to sell any more of its da Vinci robot-assisted surgery platforms in Pakistan until the two it’s already got on the market there are brought back on line.

The Sindh Institute of Urology & Transplantation in Karachi asked to acquire a da Vinci system, according to The News of Pakistan, but Intuitive Surgical refused until a pair of disused da Vincis at other hospitals in Karachi are made operable again.

Intuitive said the already-installed systems at the Civil Hospital and the Government Qatar Hospital must stay on line for at least a year before it will sell any more systems in Pakistan, according to the newspaper, which cited “a senior official of the Sindh health department.”

“The reason behind the refusal was the fact that the corporation was one of international repute and the broken robotic systems at two government-run hospitals in Karachi were tarnishing its image, said the official who requested anonymity,” the paper reported.

The two existing systems, sold in 2011 at $3 million apiece, have been idle for two years after breaking down for lack of maintenance following about 100 procedures, the official said.

“The hospitals require hundreds of thousands of dollars to get the systems repaired,” he told The News, adding that the company has also rebuffed other, private Pakistani hospitals looking to buy its flagship product.

For one of the abortive deals, the local health department put up about $2.4 million (PKR250 million), the source said, “but when the manufacturing firm stated its conditions, [Sindh Institute of Urology & Transplantation] officials said they would provide half of the funds for repair of the machine at the [Civil Hospital] while the other half was to be arranged by the health department,” the official told the newspaper.

Qatar Hospital medical superintendent Dr. Khalid Masood told the paper that Intuitive asked for $381,000  to repair its da Vinci, which the hospital’s management asked the local government to provide.

A representative for Intuitive did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

($1 = PKR104.864)

About The Author

Brad Perriello

Brad Perriello has written for The Associated Press, The Eagle-Tribune, Boston.com, The Boston Globe, Industrial Distribution magazine and a variety of local and regional newspapers. He received a master’s degree in journalism from Boston University in 2005. He helped co-found MassDevice and leads WTWH Media’s life science editorial team.

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles Read More >

myoshirt
ETH Zurich develops wearable muscles
International Federation of Robotics appoints new president, VP
impossible mining auv
Impossible Mining raises $10.1M for underwater mining robot
UR20 cobot Universal Robots
Anders Beck introduces the UR20; California bans autonomous tractors

2021 Robotics Handbook

The Robot Report Listing Database

Latest Robotics News

Robot Report Podcast

Anders Beck introduces the UR20; California bans autonomous tractors
See More >

Sponsored Content

  • Magnetic encoders support the stabilization control of a self-balancing two-wheeled robotic vehicle
  • How to best choose your AGV’s Wheel Drive provider
  • Meet Trey, the autonomous trailer (un)loading forklift
  • Kinova Robotics launches Link 6, the first Canadian industrial collaborative robot
  • Torque sensors help make human/robot collaborations safer for workers

RBR50 Innovation Awards

Leave us a voicemail

The Robot Report
  • Mobile Robot Guide
  • Collaborative Robotics Trends
  • Field Robotics Forum
  • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
  • RoboBusiness Event
  • Robotics Business Review
  • Robotics Summit & Expo
  • About The Robot Report
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Exoskeletons
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Markets
    • Agriculture
    • Healthcare
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
    • Security
  • Financial
    • Investments
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Earnings
  • Resources
    • Careers
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Issues
    • Publications
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
      • Robotics Business Review
    • RBR50 Winners 2022
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
    • Leave a voicemail