A groundbreaking surgery has pushed the boundaries of telemedicine in Morocco. On Friday, May 2, a man in Laayoune underwent a complex prostate operation—performed remotely by a surgeon located more than 1,000 kilometers away in Casablanca. Using a robotic system linked across cities, Dr. Adil Ouzzane successfully carried out a radical prostatectomy without setting foot in the operating room. Controlling the procedure from a surgical console at the International Oncology Center in Casablanca, he operated on the 52-year-old patient housed in the International Polyclinic of Laayoune. The operation proceeded without complications, and the patient’s condition is reported as stable and satisfactory.
This unprecedented achievement marks a major milestone in Morocco’s medical history, made possible by a cutting-edge technological setup. The initiative, spearheaded by the Akdital Group, equipped both hospitals with next-generation robotic surgical systems capable of replicating the surgeon’s movements with extreme precision. At the heart of this breakthrough is a remarkably efficient data transmission system. To ensure real-time responsiveness, Akdital’s IT team engineered a high-security infrastructure with a latency of under 20 milliseconds. The system runs on a dual-connection model—fiber optic cable and microwave transmission—to maintain a seamless link, even in the event of a failure in one of the channels.
Inside the operating room in Laayoune, two urologists—Dr. Younes Tibari and Professor Adil Mellouki—stood by to intervene if needed. Meanwhile, anesthesiologist Dr. Khalid Azizi monitored the patient’s vitals to ensure full stability throughout the procedure. This synchronized effort, backed by a well-trained medical and support team, allowed the remote operation to unfold under optimal safety conditions.
Following the surgery, Dr. Ouzzane—who also serves as president of the Moroccan Society for Robotic Surgery—called it a major leap forward for the country’s healthcare system. He emphasized that this successful remote procedure could help bring advanced surgical care to patients in rural and underserved regions, bridging the gap between urban expertise and remote access.
For Akdital Group CEO Dr. Rochdi Talib, this marks the start of a new chapter. His vision is clear: to make high-tech healthcare accessible across Morocco and position the country as a leader in medical innovation on the African continent.
