St. Luke’s Medical Center has reached a new milestone in Philippine healthcare, completing more than 2,500 robotic-assisted surgeries—the highest number performed by any hospital in the country.
Officially certified by Device Technologies (DTG Medical Inc.), the achievement reinforces St. Luke’s reputation as the national leader in robotic surgery and a pioneer in medical innovation.
“This milestone reflects our dedication to elevating Philippine healthcare standards by integrating advanced surgical systems that ensure precision, safety, and faster recovery for our patients. Each robotic procedure performed represents our pursuit of excellence and our mission to transform patient outcomes through innovation,” said St. Luke’s president and CEO Dr. Dennis P. Serrano.
A milestone celebration, held in Mandaluyong City, paid tribute to St. Luke’s pioneering robotic surgeons, top-performing specialists, and patients whose lives have been transformed by robotic-assisted care.
Surgical innovation
Since introducing the Da Vinci Si robotic surgery system in 2010 – the first in the Philippines – St. Luke’s has continuously led the nation in adopting and advancing robotic-assisted procedures.
Among its groundbreaking milestones are the country’s first robotic-assisted Nissen fundoplication in 2010, thyroidectomy in 2011, and esophagectomy in 2013. By 2016, it had performed robotic tonsillectomy and thoracic surgeries, reaching its 500th robotic procedure.
The 1,000th surgery followed in 2019, and in 2023 St. Luke’s made history with Southeast Asia’s first robotic-assisted kidney transplant. The momentum continued in 2024 when the hospital became the first in the Philippines to acquire the advanced Da Vinci Xi system and perform Southeast Asia’s first robotic-assisted cardiac surgery using the latest platform.
This year, St. Luke’s completed over 2,500 robotic surgeries, including the country’s first robotic-assisted ureteral reimplantation in a pediatric patient.
From a single robotic platform in 2010, St. Luke’s now operates multiple Da Vinci systems across its Global City and Quezon City hospitals, serving as training centers for both local and regional surgeons.
“When we decided to acquire the Da Vinci system in 2010, it was an investment in a future we believed in, one where Filipino patients would not have to go overseas for surgery that’s now possible here,” Dr. Serrano recalled.
Surgeons behind success
Over the past 15 years, Serrano himself has performed 346 robotic procedures, a show of his hands-on leadership and commitment to building local expertise.
Among the program’s key contributors are Dr. Jason L. Letran, with 232 robotic cases; Dr. Josefino C. Castillo, 152; Dr. Jaime S. D. Songco, 83 in urology; Dr. Jennifer Marie B. Jose, 248 in obstetrics and gynecology; and Dr. Rebecca B. Singson, with 229 cases as of September 2025.
St. Luke’s has since expanded the scope of robotic surgery to cover urology, gynecology, thoracic surgery, general surgery, cardiac procedures, and organ transplantation.
In 2024, it performed both the Philippines’ first robotic-assisted cardiac surgery and its first robotic laparoscopic prostatectomy using the Da Vinci Xi system.
“Robotic surgery allows us to perform highly complex operations through smaller incisions, reducing trauma and accelerating recovery. It’s the future of surgery—and that future is already here in the Philippines,” Serrano explained.
World-class care
Serrano revealed that the road to achieving its latest feat was at a high cost of technology, the need for intensive surgeon training, and the initial hesitancy of patients.
“When we first started, there were questions about whether patients could afford it or if doctors would adapt. But because Filipino doctors and St. Luke’s can do it, we’ve proven that advanced surgical care doesn’t have to mean going abroad. It can be done right here, safely and effectively,” Serrano said.
Moving forward, St. Luke’s aims to make robotic surgery more accessible and affordable for Filipino patients.
Serrano emphasized that the goal is to ensure that robotic surgery becomes part of mainstream care, aspiring every Filipino to benefit from world-class procedures without worrying about prohibitive costs
“Robotic surgery is about empowering Filipino surgeons with world-class tools and ensuring patients receive the same level of care available in leading global centers. This is what we mean when we say: world-class healthcare is right here in the Philippines,” Serrano said.
