History Made: Florida Surgeons Perform Remote Robotic Prostate Surgery on Angolan Patient

Reporting by iNewsAfrica Bureau, Central Africa

A pioneering robotic prostatectomy was successfully performed from Florida on a patient in Angola — marking the first remote urological surgery in Africa as part of an FDA-approved clinical trial.

• The landmark surgery was conducted as part of a U.S. FDA-approved trial on transcontinental robotic procedures.

• A da Vinci surgical robot in Luanda was controlled remotely by surgeons in Miami, Florida.

• Experts hail this as a breakthrough in expanding access to advanced surgical care across Africa.

Luanda, Angola — In a world-first medical achievement, a robotic prostatectomy was successfully performed remotely from the United States on a patient in Angola, redefining the possibilities of modern surgery. The groundbreaking procedure — part of a U.S. FDA-approved clinical trial — saw surgeons at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami control a robotic surgical system located at Clínica Girassol in Luanda.

Infographic image of the remote procedure

The patient, a 58-year-old man diagnosed with localized prostate cancer, underwent the minimally invasive procedure without complications. He is now reported to be recovering well, and early signs suggest a highly favorable prognosis.

“This is a monumental moment for both medical science and global health equity,” said Dr. Rafael Guzman, the lead surgeon. “We’ve taken a definitive step toward dissolving the barriers that prevent patients in remote regions from accessing specialized care.”

The operation used the da Vinci Xi robotic platform in Angola, connected via a secure, ultra-low latency 5G satellite network to surgeons in Florida. The system included fail-safe protocols, real-time feedback, and remote telemetry support to ensure precision and safety.

The FDA trial, titled “Project SurgiLink,” is evaluating the feasibility and safety of remote robotic surgery across continents. Angola’s inclusion marks the first African deployment, with future plans for Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.

Angola’s Health Minister, Dr. Silvia Lutucuta, praised the collaboration: “This is a turning point. Remote surgery can offer immediate solutions where skilled surgeons are scarce. It opens up vast opportunities for telemedicine, education, and patient outcomes.”

Medical experts believe this achievement signals a new chapter in healthcare, particularly for countries across Africa where advanced surgical care is often concentrated in urban centers or entirely unavailable.

As the global medical community continues to explore this frontier, the successful Florida-to-Angola surgery stands as a beacon of what’s possible when innovation meets need — and distance is no longer a limitation.