New Horizons in Robotic Surgery at the University of Szeged
New Horizons in Robotic Surgery at the University of Szeged
2026. August 27.
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The University of Szeged has reached another major milestone in the development of its Robotic Surgery Center with the commissioning of a da Vinci X robotic surgical system. The new technology will enable robot-assisted procedures in general surgery, urology, and obstetrics and gynecology. Preparations are already in full swing: specialist training has begun, and the first robot-assisted surgeries could take place as early as September.
The University’s ambitions go far beyond the acquisition of a new surgical system. SZTE is building a sustainable, multidisciplinary Robotic Surgery Center that brings together advanced patient care, medical education, specialist training, clinical innovation, and research. Rather than requiring major investment in separate infrastructure, the project focuses on establishing the professional and organizational framework needed to ensure that robotic surgery can be performed safely and efficiently. In doing so, it is laying the foundations for the University of Szeged to become one of Central Europe’s leading centers in the field.
The surgeon controls the robotic system from a console, with a real-time, magnified 3D HD view of the surgical field.
Opening new frontiers in robotic surgery
Robot-assisted procedures are already well established at the University of Szeged. In late 2024, SZTE introduced an orthopedic surgical robot for knee and hip replacement procedures, followed in July 2026 by Hungary’s first robotic center for treating heart rhythm disorders using a stereotactic system. The University is now expanding into another major area with the development of a dedicated operating model for soft-tissue robotic surgery.
The initiative is laying the groundwork for safe and efficient robot-assisted procedures, from designing specialized surgical workflows to training the medical and operating room teams who will use the technology. It brings together specialists in general surgery, urology, and obstetrics and gynecology, along with assisting physicians and operating room professionals – building the multidisciplinary expertise needed for the next phase of robotic surgery at SZTE.
Training and education for the new robotic surgery program are already underway.
Bringing robot-assisted surgery to patients
The robotic surgery program is being led by the Department of Surgery at the University of Szeged’s Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center. According to Dr. habil. Attila Paszt, PhD, Associate Professor and Head of Department, the new robotic surgical system will be installed in Operating Room 2 of the 265-bed clinic’s central surgical suite, paving the way for the first robot-assisted procedures to begin in early September.
The robotic surgical system will be installed in Operating Room 2 of the 265-bed clinic’s central surgical suite.
“This is about far more than bringing a new robot to SZTE – the arrival of the system marks another major step toward building an integrated robotic surgery program. Specialists in general surgery, urology, and obstetrics and gynecology will train side by side and incorporate robot-assisted techniques into everyday clinical practice. Following installation and training in August, the technology could be introduced into patient care as early as September, opening a new chapter in surgical care at the University of Szeged,” the director emphasized.
The system enables exceptional precision, even during complex procedures performed within confined spaces.
Dr. Paszt added that the system does not operate independently – the surgeon remains fully in control, operating it from a console while viewing a real-time, magnified 3D HD video feed of the surgical field. The technology can be used for a wide range of abdominal and thoracic cancer procedures, including surgery involving the lungs, esophagus, colon, gallbladder and bile ducts, and pancreas, as well as prostate, uterine, and other pelvic procedures. Its high precision allows surgeons to operate accurately even in confined anatomical spaces through small incisions. In addition to providing the precision required in oncological surgery, robot-assisted procedures may also contribute to faster recovery and reduced postoperative pain.
The initiative is also supported by Mediversal Kft., the University of Szeged’s healthcare services company, which helps ensure the project’s long-term operational and financial sustainability.
