HEALTH | Medical forum to explore robotic surgical skills in breast surgery

The 20th Sino-Luso International Medical Forum in Macau, taking place between tomorrow and Monday, will focus on robotic surgical skills, particularly in breast surgery, since this is technology that has yet to be developed in Macau.
“Tele-robotic surgical systems have been around for more than 10 years (…) It is time for us to train our local surgeons to further their skills and knowledge in this advanced technology,” professor Manson Fok, president of the forum, said in a statement.
He stressed that there are newer generations of surgical robotic arms being used on minimally invasive procedures in Hong Kong and mainland China, since they have also become less expensive.
Organized by the Macau Healthcare Management and Promotion Association, the medical forum will feature a presentation by Israeli robotic simulation expert Ori Dotan. He said in a statement that the forum would showcase the advanced robotic simulation system currently being developed in Israel.
The forum’s academic programs are being chaired by the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) and the Vice President of the Hong Kong College of Surgeons, professor Edward Lai.
Professor Lai stressed that the event will allow Macau surgeons to learn how to use surgical robotic arms, practicing operations ranging from basic skills to suturing on three dimensional virtual-reality visual simulations.
Under the theme “Robotic Surgical Skills Training and Revolution in Breast Surgery,” the forum is also set to cover a wide range of new surgical methods that can be used in breast surgery. Experts will present the latest data on diagnosis, tumor appearances, case studies, advanced treatment, therapies, and chances of survival.
Scientific committee members and scholars from Hong Kong will participate in the forum. Two Portuguese medical experts have also been invited.
The forum features robotic skills training workshops, which will be held at the Center of Excellence for Medical Professional Development tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. Scientific sessions will be held on Sunday at 8:30 a.m.  CP