Morocco’s healthcare sector has recorded a major technology-driven development after an Italian surgeon remotely operated on a patient in Casablanca using a robotic surgical system.

The procedure took place on September 9 during the European Robotic Urology Section (ERUS) 2026 congress. Urologist Dr Youness Ahallal said the operation involved a robot-assisted radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.

The surgeon controlled the robotic system from Padua, Italy, while a medical team at the Littoral Clinic Ain Diab in Casablanca remained with the patient and managed the operation locally.

The connection between Italy and Morocco reportedly had a response time of around 80 milliseconds, allowing the procedure to be conducted remotely. The operation was also broadcast to about 1,250 medical specialists attending the congress.

The development highlights how robotic surgery, remote medical training and international surgical mentoring could expand access to specialist expertise without requiring patients to travel abroad.

According to the medical group involved, the patient was recovering well following the operation.