Dr. Bipin Jha: I am a robotic and laparoscopic colorectal surgeon, trained in the UK. Our training there covers colorectal, general, emergency surgery, and endoscopy. Currently in India, I practice across all these areas, abdominal and perianal surgeries, performed robotically, laparoscopically, or open, depending on what is best for the patient. I also perform diagnostic and therapeutic upper and lower GI endoscopy, as well as some laser procedures like laser-assisted closure of pilonidal sinus and fistula.

In England we are called colorectal and general surgeons.

Dr. Bipin Jha: I did my MBBS from Thanjavur Medical College, Tamil Nadu. I got selected through All India Quota and joined in, 1996.

After graduation, I prepared for and cleared the UK PLAB exam, which marked the beginning of my surgical career there.
I completed two years of core training, followed by an extra junior fellowship, then six years of higher surgical training. After that, I pursued a fellowship in laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery and later worked as a senior registrar before becoming a consultant in colorectal and emergency surgery.

I worked in the UK for over 15 years. Eventually, I returned to India due to challenges in the higher medical hierarchy, including racism, which made it difficult to work freely at senior levels.

Dr. Bipin Jha: Actually, quite strange. When I finished my internship, I wanted to be a physician.

While I was preparing for PLAB exam, I joined a hospital as a junior resident in Patna, here in Bihar, where I met 3 young dashing surgeons, and working with them changed my perspective.
I realised I enjoyed the focused, uninterrupted environment of the operating theatre compared to the constant interruptions on the wards. That clarity and structure suited my personality, and I chose surgery.

Like, somebody has got appendicitis, you've got to take appendix out. So, you are quite focused on one job.

Dr. Bipin Jha: NHS has got a big impact on me since I worked there for 15 years.

The biggest lesson to take home was patient-centric care. Every decision must prioritise the patient’s best interest. Working that way is deeply satisfying, and Indian patients also appreciate it, especially given the current trust gap in doctor–patient relationships.

Dr. Bipin Jha: UK training is highly structured, whereas in India, training quality has declined over the years. I focus on structured learning for junior doctors, starting with communication skills, then basic clinical management, and later advanced decision-making. Because as a consultant, we don't have that much time to go through with 30, 40 patients in our ward. So we want our junior doctor to be a good communicator with the patient and within the team.
In surgery, knowing when not to operate is as important as operating well. I mentor juniors to follow a stepwise, methodical learning process, similar to the UK system.

Dr. Bipin Jha: Thank you for asking this question.

In US, robotic surgery, started with urological procedures, around 25 years ago. In England, I started training in 2014 and it has expanded rapidly in the last few years.

In India, Tier-1 cities have adopted it for over a decade, but affordability has been a barrier. Lower income group could not dream to have a robotic surgery.
Now, India’s SSI Mantra, developed by SS Innovations, offers a robotic platform at nearly one-third the cost of the Da Vinci system, leader in the field of robotic surgery. This makes the operating cost robotic surgery more accessible.

In Bihar, the people are not well aware about robotic surgery and the cost was also a major hindrance.
My goal in Bihar is to offer robotic procedures at the price of laparoscopic surgery with the help of SSI mantra so that more people benefit.

Dr. Bipin Jha: Yes, mainly the belief that a “machine” performs the surgery. Patient education helps, showing them that the surgeon controls the robot entirely. Similar misconceptions existed when laparoscopic surgery was new. In India, in the last 20 years, laparoscopic surgery has shapened up. Even in England, the advanced laparoscopic surgery has boomed in the last 15-16 years.

Once people understand the benefits of robotic surgery, acceptance will also increase. So, we educate people and then proceed.

Robotic systems have three components:

1. Patient cart – robotic arms holding the surgical instruments.

2. Surgeon’s console – where the surgeon sits and controls the instruments, similar to using a video-game controller.

3. Vision cart – providing a magnified, high-definition view of the surgical field.

Robotic arms eliminate natural hand tremors and allow highly precise movements with magnified vision. It also eliminates the limitation of human wrist. For example, in pelvic surgeries, this precision helps avoid injury to important nerves and vessels, reducing complications like bladder or sexual dysfunction. It's like playing video games, you have got the console in your hand, and you move and everything moves on the screen as you want.