With the first procedures across a range of surgical specialties—including General Surgery, Urologic Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Gynecologic Surgery, and others—performed using the Da Vinci 5, the world's most advanced robotic surgical system, Henry Dunant Hospital Center and the IMITHEA Group have opened a new chapter for robotic surgery in Greece. Henry Dunant Hospital Center is the first and only hospital in Greece to install and operate the Da Vinci 5 system, only the second in Europe and among the first ten worldwide.
This development not only places Henry Dunant Hospital Center at the forefront of surgical technology, but also marks a new era for the Greek surgical community and, above all, for patients. After ten years of research and investment, the Da Vinci 5 is not simply an upgrade, but a new paradigm in surgery, with the full integration of artificial intelligence, which is shaping the future of healthcare systems overall.
“At a time of rapid technological advancements, there is no room for delay or waiting. Henry Dunant Hospital Center and the IMITHEA Group are playing a leading role in this new era, and the introduction of this pioneering robotic system further strengthens our position as a center of excellence of international standing. This marks an important milestone in the five-year development plan we are implementing, which includes continuous and substantial investments in technological equipment to ensure that we remain at the forefront of technology and continue to provide our patients with high-quality services at lower cost, while keeping pace with international competition," said Themos Charamis, Executive Chairman of the IMITHEA Group, as he inaugurated the operation of the new robotic system.
The Da Vinci 5, the newest and most advanced multi-arm robotic surgical system, marks a complete reset in the field of robotic surgery, as it incorporates more than 150 innovations, delivers computing power 10,000 times greater than its predecessor, and is the first robotic platform to provide haptic feedback from tissue. Among its many innovations, the da Vinci 5 introduces three major advances:
1. Force Feedback – Surgeons Can Feel Tissue
For the first time in the history of robotic surgery, the system enables surgeons to feel the pressure and resistance exerted on tissue. This haptic feedback (Force Feedback) allows for more precise tissue handling, reduces the risk of inadvertent injuries by 43%, and takes the quality of every procedure to a new level.
2. Artificial Intelligence and Real-Time Analytics
The da Vinci 5 is the first robotic surgical system with integrated artificial intelligence. Through the My Intuitive+ platform, every procedure is automatically recorded and analyzed, providing objective performance metrics, procedure review videos, and motion analysis. This transforms both the training of new surgeons and quality assessment. The Telepresence feature enables real-time collaboration with remote experts anywhere in the world, while the integrated SimNow 2 simulator allows surgeons to practice and warm up directly at the console before every procedure.
3. Operating Room Efficiency and new Ergonomics
The simplified workflow, integrated console, and improved instrument exchange process reduce the time between procedures. This enables more procedures to be performed each day, lowers the cost per case and expands patient access to robotic surgery.
The new robotic system supports a wide range of surgical specialties, significantly expanding the capabilities of minimally invasive surgery, including General Surgery, Urology, Gynecology, Thoracic Surgery, Bariatric Surgery, and others. Above all, however, it is an investment in patients’ health and quality of life with immediate and long-term benefits, as it ensures: Less invasive surgery (reduced tissue trauma and smaller incisions), faster recovery and shorter hospital stays, reduced postoperative pain and less need for analgesics, lower risk of complications, better long-term functional outcomes, and the ability to perform robotic surgery across a wider range of procedures and for a wider range of patients
About IMITHEA Group
IMITHEA Group operates a strong healthcare network comprising six General Clinics—Henry Dunan Hospital in Athens, Kyanous Stavros General Clinic and General Genesis Clinic in Thessaloniki, General Clinic in Rhodes, and General Clinic in Kozani—along with a state-of-the-art Rehabilitation Center (Arogi, in Pylaia, Thessaloniki) and a pioneering Assisted Reproduction Unit (IVF Fertilia, in Thessaloniki). Together, these facilities form one of the fastest-growing pillars of private healthcare in Greece. The Group has a total capacity of 1,360 inpatient beds, collaborates with more than 3,300 physicians across all specialties, and serves over 600,000 patients annually.
