A remote medical operation was conducted in Türkiye between Istanbul and Mus, spanning a distance of approximately 1,500 kilometers, utilizing the 5G infrastructure of Turkey-based telecommunications company Turkcell. The kidney stone lithotripsy surgery of a patient treated at Mus State Hospital was successfully performed by doctors located at Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine on May 20, 2026. Executed with a device produced with domestic resources in Türkiye, this operation marks the country’s first remote surgery, highlighting the role of 5G technology in enhancing accessibility to healthcare services.
Procedure marks a global methodological milestone
The procedure lasted approximately 4 hours and was completed intravenously without requiring conventional surgical incisions. According to the medical team, this operation stands as the world’s first remote surgery performed specifically using the Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS) method for kidney stone treatment. The surgical team consisted of Prof. Dr. Tzevat Tefik from Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine and Op. Dr. Rifat Burak Ergul at Mus State Hospital. The 5G network deployed at both healthcare facilities enabled the procedure through high-speed data transmission and low latency.
Domestic robotic system integrated into the operation
The remote lithotripsy procedure utilized the “Ibn-i Sina” (Avicenna Roboflex) robotic device, developed by the Ankara OSTIM-based medical technology firm ELMED. Founded in 1991, the Turkish medical equipment manufacturer produced the initial prototype of this robotic system in 2012 under a project supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (Tubitak). Holding the European CE mark and US FDA approval, the robotic system is actively utilized in several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. The developer company is currently integrating tele-surgery capabilities and artificial intelligence support into the system.
Statements from institutional representatives
Istanbul University Rector Prof. Dr. Osman Bulent Zulfikar stated that this 5G-powered operation demonstrated that the expertise of the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Urology in robot-assisted surgery and advanced endourology can be transferred to different centers. Zulfikar emphasized that the implementation of health technologies and tele-surgery represents a scientific step for the country.
Turkcell CEO Dr. Ali Taha Koc noted that 5G technology, which was launched commercially nationwide on April 1, has initiated a transformation across various sectors, from education to healthcare. Koc highlighted that this operation, conducted over a 1,500-kilometer distance via Superbox 5G, serves as a demonstration of the technology’s capacity to eliminate geographic limitations.
Prof. Dr. Tzevat Tefik, Faculty Member at the Istanbul University Department of Urology, emphasized that the combination of the domestic robotic device and the 5G network allowed the team in Istanbul to monitor and treat the patient in Mus in real time, as if they were in the same operating room. Tefik added that this achievement proves tele-surgery is a clinically viable model rather than just a technological demonstration, aiming to position Türkiye as an international reference center in this field.
