€3.2m investment delivers faster recovery, shorter hospital stays

Saint James Hospital has become the first private hospital in Malta to introduce pioneering robotic-assisted surgery, which will deliver significant benefits for patients including shorter hospital stays and faster recovery.

The €3.2 million robotic surgery system – operational from January 2 – will assist surgeons to enhance precision, control, and visualisation during surgery through its advanced 3DHD vision, wristed instruments, and tremor-filtration capabilities.
While the technology enhances the surgeon’s capabilities, the greatest benefits will be experienced by patients, whose outcomes improve substantially compared with conventional surgery.

Jean Claude Muscat, CEO of the Saint James Hospital Group, said: “This investment represents a major step forward for private healthcare in Malta, and will improve patient outcomes by offering procedures that result in less pain, smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays and a quicker return to everyday life.

“Our mission has always been to provide patients with the safest, most advanced care possible, and this technology ensures that individuals in Malta seeking private treatment can now benefit from world-leading surgical innovation.”

Saint James Hospital is expecting to perform three to four robotic-assisted procedures per week across a number of disciplines including general surgery, bariatric surgery, gynaecology, and urology.

Research has shown that patients stand to gain from the following benefits:

Shorter hospital stays, typically 1–2 days less, enabling a quicker return to daily life
10–44% fewer complications
21–75% fewer transfusions and reduced blood loss
Less pain and discomfort
Reduced risk of infection
Minimal scarring
Faster recovery and improved overall experience

The introduction of robotic surgery into the private sector also means that patients will have access to a broader range of minimally invasive procedures, including smaller and more delicate interventions that require a high level of precision.
Adrian Vella, Medical Director at Saint James Hospital, said: “Our surgeons now have access to technology that enhances precision and control beyond what is possible with traditional techniques.

“While robotic surgery enhances the surgeon’s capabilities — particularly through superior 3D vision and high-precision instrumentation — it does not replace surgical skill. All procedures are performed by top local surgeons who have already attained specialised certification in robotic-assisted surgery.”