Regina Pasqua Hospital welcomes robot-assisted surgical system, third in the province

Regina Pasqua Hospital is now home to Saskatchewan's third robot-assisted surgical system. Damian Smith has more.

Regina Pasqua Hospital is now home to the province’s third robot assisted surgical (RAS) system, which aims to provide less-invasive procedures and faster recovery times.

Since launching at the Pasqua Hospital in September 2025, the Da Vinci RAS system has been used to perform almost 20 surgeries, including hysterectomies and hernia surgery, according to the province.

“This program will ensure more patients in Regina and across southern Saskatchewan have access to advanced surgical care for a wide range of procedures, including cancer care closer to home,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said in a news release.

The first two RAS systems were introduced in St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon.

The health minister notes that the new system in Regina can be more geographically accommodating for those in southern Saskatchewan.

“If you live in a place like Assiniboia, if you live in a place like Yorkton, and if you have to have major surgery, that will typically happen in Regina,” Cockrill said. “It impacts the whole southern half of the province so that people in southern Saskatchewan can have a high degree of confidence.”

The system can be used to remove cancerous tumours and organs, as well as urology, kidney, and bladder procedures. It can also be used for hysterectomies and hernias. More specialized procedures will be added as more surgeons are trained.

“If you’re comparing laparoscopic surgery to robotic surgery, the scale of benefits is less, especially with the smaller procedures,” said Dr. Gu. “With the bigger procedures, there’s a lot of evidence for decreased complication rates, less pain and lower readmission.”

The da Vinci surgical robot helps surgeons perform minimally invasive procedures, according to the province. At the central control panel, the surgeon can use hand and foot controls to guide the robot’s arms, which hold a camera and tiny surgical instruments, the province said.

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With the RAS system, the surgeon’s movements become precise and scaled-down, filtering out any natural hand tremors, while the camera gives a magnified and 3D view of the surgical area to allow for clear details.

“Our surgical teams continue to demonstrate extraordinary skill and commitment as the robotic-assisted surgery program continues to expand,” Saskatchewan Health Authority General Surgeon Dr. Jeff Gu said in the release.

“Patients are already experiencing the benefits of faster recovery times, less pain, minimal scarring, and shorter hospital stays.”

The Hospitals of Regina Foundation provided $270,000 for the purchase of washing and disinfectant equipment to ensure the system’s reusable instruments are clean.

Since fall of 2022, the Government of Saskatchewan has invested $2 million annually to continue expanding the system in the province.

Once fully operational, Regina’s RAS system is expected to provide over 300 procedures annually, which will be capable of performing procedures to partially or fully remove cancerous tumors and organs, among several other operations.