NIMS urologist joins Indian elite with historic robotic kidney transplant in southern India
Hyderabad: In a groundbreaking achievement, urologists at the Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) successfully conducted the institute’s first robotic kidney transplant, an important milestone in public health care. This rare feat location is an elite group of a handful of hospitals in India who use robot-assisted surgery for kidney transplants.
The recipient is a 33-year-old man from Nargonda who has been battling end-stage renal disease for nearly a decade. After a live-streamed kidney transplant in 2017, he later suffered a chronic rejection and needed a second transplant. This time, he received a corpse kidney, making the surgery particularly complicated by previous surgery.
Despite the challenges, the surgery was performed without any complications, and the newly transplanted kidneys worked immediately and once connected, a good urine output was produced, indicating successful grafts and smooth recovery.
The NIMS Urology and Kidney Transplant Department, known for its large-scale transplant program, has now undergone 41 kidney transplants in just 2.5 months in 2025, with a total of nearly 2,000.
This is a complement to about 11,000 other urology surgeries performed each year. The introduction of robotics technology is expected to further improve surgical accuracy, reduce recovery time and improve patient outcomes.
Professor Rahul Devraj, the institute’s leading urologist and transplant surgeon, described the robot transplant as a landmark achievement, adding that it was the first government hospital in southern India.
The pioneering program was chaired by Professor Rahul Devraj along with Senior Professor and Dr. Hod Ram Reddy and Assistant Professor Dheeraj SSS, who played an important role in performing complex surgeries.
Robot-assisted kidney transplants are transforming organ transplants, providing unparalleled accuracy, smaller incisions, minimal postoperative pain and faster recovery. Through this groundbreaking process, the NIMS Urology team reaffirmed its position as a pioneer in medical innovation and set new standards for public healthcare institutions.
By successfully performing advanced urology procedures and addressing complex renal transplants, NIMS urologists continue to push the boundaries of excellence in patient care and surgical expertise. This historic surgery is not only a technical victory, but it is NIMS’ commitment to delivering world-class medical services that make advanced treatment available to all.
NIMS Director Dr. Beerappa congratulated the Urology team on achieving this rare feat and recognized their dedication and expertise in successfully performing the institute’s first robotic kidney transplant.
Professor Rahul Devraj, together with the urology team, expressed his gratitude to Damodar Raja Narasimha, Minister of Health and Director of NIMS, Dr. Beerappa, who unwaveringly supported bringing the latest medical technology to NIMS hospitals to ensure that all patients have access to the latest health care.
According to the Telangana Aarogyasri Health Plan, the program is executed for free. In addition, the patient will benefit from free access to immunosuppressive drugs, which are critical for long-term transplant survival, thereby reducing the financial burden of post-transplant care.
