India, July 23 -- State run JJ hospital has sent a proposal to the Maharashtra government to include their newly introduced robotic arm surgeries and bariatric surgery in the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) scheme which benefits ration card holders.

In April, the hospital introduced robotic arm surgery for laparoscopic procedures, those involving a thin telescope-like instrument with a camera to view and operate on the inside of the abdomen and pelvis through small incisions. Since then, they have done over 80 such successful procedures, said hospital officials.

Officials added that robotic arm surgeries have led to minimal blood loss, which would make them a valuable addition to the scheme.

Along with this, officials...