Dr. Ramzi Nouira, Director of the Robotic Surgery Center, performing surgery
The Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunisia has officially opened a new robotic surgery center, powered by the Korean-made Revo-i surgical robot. The center, which held its opening ceremony on November 11, represents a strategic partnership between Tunisia and South Korea and marks the entry of Korean surgical robotics into the North African market.
The event drew high-level officials, including Mustapha Ferjani, Minister of Health, and Tae-won LEE, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Tunisia, alongside Joon Koo Kim, CEO of Meerecompany, the robot’s manufacturer.
Minister Ferjani hailed the center as a major advancement for the nation’s healthcare system. “With the introduction of Revo-i, we look forward not only to the growth of robotic surgery but also to broader exchanges involving Korea’s advanced medical technologies,” he stated.
Ambassador Lee emphasized the strategic importance of the milestone. “Tunisia’s first robotic surgery performed with a Korean-made surgical robot is a meaningful milestone for K-medical as it expands into the North African market,” he said, noting it would serve as a foundation for a deeper partnership in advanced medicine between the two countries.
The inauguration was immediately followed by the center’s first clinical procedure. Dr. Ramzi Nouira, Director of the Robotic Surgery Center, successfully performed a gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) on a 38-year-old female patient using the Revo-i system. The patient recovered smoothly and was discharged without complications, a success that garnered attention from the Tunisian Ministry of Health and local media.
The procedure’s success was attributed to rigorous preparation. Dr. Nouira completed intensive training on the Revo-i system in South Korea, supplemented by observations at established Revo-i reference centers. The entire surgical team at Charles Nicolle Hospital also underwent local intensive training to ensure a stable launch.
“We are honored to see Revo-i introduced to Tunisia, a leading country in North African medical advancement,” said Meerecompany CEO Joon Koo Kim. He expressed plans to use the center as a hub to engage surgeons across North Africa and build a sustainable robotic surgery program.
The launch in Tunisia signals the accelerating global expansion of the Revo-i system. Ho Kun Lee, Executive Vice President of the company’s Surgical Robot Division, confirmed that with recent launches in Morocco, Uzbekistan, and Paraguay, “Revo-i’s global journey truly has entered a full-scale phase.” The company expects the Tunisian center to become a benchmark for robotic surgery expansion throughout the region.
TunisianMonitorOnline (NejiMed)
