There are moments in healthcare when innovation feels larger than technology itself.
Probably because of what it represents for patients, doctors, families, and the future of medicine.
That was the atmosphere at Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center yesterday as the institution announces the acquisition and official launch of the first TOUMAI Endoscopic Single-Port Robotic Surgical System, the first single-port robotic surgical platform introduced in the Philippines.
Following official approval from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration, this landmark innovation marks a transformative step forward in minimally invasive surgery and reinforces CGHMC’s commitment to world-class patient care, surgical precision, and medical innovation.
TOUMAI Endoscopic Single-Port Robotic Surgical System
The machine is designed to enhance surgical precision while further minimizing invasiveness and improving recovery for patients undergoing urologic, gynecologic, and general surgical procedures. By utilizing a single-entry point, the system further reduces surgical trauma, further minimizes postoperative pain, shortens hospital stays, and promotes faster recovery.
The event, held at CGHMC, was orderly and well-attended by esteemed guests from the medical community, government, diplomatic corps, and Filipino-Chinese business sector. More importantly, it reflected a gathering united by a shared belief: that Filipino patients deserve access to world-class healthcare technologies once thought available only overseas.
READ: Advancing the Future of Minimally Invasive Surgery: CGHMC Unveils theCountry’s First Toumai Single-Port Robotic Surgical System
For many in attendance, however, the true highlight of the afternoon was the deeply human way the technology was presented.
The Welcome Address
In his welcome remarks, Kelly Sia, President and CEO of CGHMC, emphasized that the launch was about unveiling a new machine and opening “a new chapter in patient care.”
President and CEO of CGHMC, Kelly Sia addressed the crowd at the auditorium
“At the heart of any innovation, it’s not the machine, but the life it touches,” he said. “Not the technology, but the healing it makes possible.”
It was a thoughtful reminder that even the most advanced medical breakthroughs ultimately exist to reduce suffering and improve lives.
The Innovation Explained
The afternoon’s most compelling presentation came from Dr. Jason Letran, Director for Clinical Operations and the RoboCare Surgical Center, whose talk transformed a highly technical subject into an emotional and accessible conversation about fear, healing, and surgical evolution.
He invited the audience to imagine the anxiety many patients feel when told they need surgery, fear of large incisions, blood loss, pain, and prolonged recovery. Then came the remarkable contrast brought about by minimally invasive and robotic surgery: instead of large wounds, patients now awaken to a single concealed entry point.
Director for Clinical Operations and the RoboCare Surgical Center, Dr. Jason Letran presented “Innovation In Robotic Surgery in the Philippines”
“What we are witnessing today is just the tip of the iceberg,” Dr. Letran explained, as he discussed the future of robotic surgery, including telesurgery, artificial intelligence-assisted surgical planning, real-time 3D mapping, and increasingly connected surgical systems.
But beyond the technical sophistication, what resonated most strongly was his unmistakable passion.
Moment of Joy
Following the program, Dr. Letran gracefully indulged members of the media eager to learn more about the technology and its implications for Philippine healthcare. During interviews with Joyful Wellness, both Dr. Letran and Dr. Samuel Ang spoke warmly and enthusiastically about what this advancement means for Filipino patients.
CGHMC Medical Director, Dr. Samuel Ang, shares in the pride and promise of a historic moment for Philippine healthcare
Dr. Letran later shared that one of his greatest motivations has always been the desire to make advanced medical technologies accessible locally.
The Philippine Healthcare
That vision reflects a larger shift happening across Philippine healthcare.
In his keynote address, Teodoro Herbosa, Secretary of the Department of Health, reflected on the extraordinary evolution of surgery throughout his own medical career, from traditional open procedures to laparoscopy and now robotic surgery.
In his speech, Secretary Teodoro Herbosa of the Deapartment of Health, recalled his own journey in the field of surgery
“What once sounded futuristic is now here in the Philippines,” he said. “And more importantly, it is here for Filipino patients.”
Secretary Herbosa also highlighted the importance of expanding access to advanced healthcare technologies while strengthening healthcare systems nationwide, particularly in geographically isolated areas.
READ: How to Lower Medical Costs: Screenings, Insurance, and Smart Health Choices
People’s Republic of China and The Philippines
His Excellency Jing Quan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Philippines, underscored the role of medical collaboration in strengthening ties between the Philippines and China.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Philippines, Jing Quan, noted that healthcare remains one of the most meaningful areas where cooperation between nations can directly improve lives.
The launch itself symbolized exactly that: science, diplomacy, innovation, and patient care converging in one hopeful moment.
PCCAI Chairman of the Board Antonio Tan
World-class Healthcare
According to CGHMC, the TOUMAI Single-Port Robotic Surgical System marks another major step in the hospital’s ongoing investment in advanced medical innovation and patient-centered care.
“The launch of the TOUMAI Single-Port Robotic Surgical System represents a transformative step in our mission to deliver world-class healthcare,” said Sia. “We are proud to be the first in the country to adopt this technology.”
And perhaps that is what made the event feel especially significant.
A new machine arrived, reflecting a growing confidence that the Philippines, too, can become a place where world-class healthcare innovation thrives; where surgeons continue pushing boundaries, institutions continue investing in excellence, and patients are given renewed hope closer to home.
The Takeaway
At the end of his presentation, Dr. Letran shared what may have been the afternoon’s most moving insight:
“The greatest achievement in surgery is not what happens in the operating room. The greatest achievement is what happens afterward — when the patient is able to return home, return to life, return to family, and return to work.”
In the end, that is what innovation is truly for.
Photos from the CGHMC
Editor’s Note:
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