ECONOMIC EVALUATION FOR ROBOTIC-ASSISTED SURGERY IN APAC: A 10-YEAR SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Author(s)
Yu-Ting Chi, MS1, Yu-Hsiang (Sean) Kao, PhD2.
1Intuitive Surgical, Taipei, Taiwan, 2Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA.
1Intuitive Surgical, Taipei, Taiwan, 2Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) has increased rapidly across Asia-Pacific region (APAC) healthcare systems. Despite substantial evidence supporting its clinical benefits, evidence regarding its economic value remains under debate. This systematic review aims to provide state-of-the-art synthesis of economic evaluations of RAS to provide evidence-based recommendations for healthcare policy.
METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed for English-language studies published from January 2016 to May 2026 that examined the economic evaluation of RAS in the APAC. 42,620 records were identified using economic evaluation-related terms in the study titles. After applying robotic surgery-related terms (n=242), Asia-Pacific geographic terms (n=62), publication date and language restrictions (n=58), and study design filters, 12 records were retained. Following manual reviewing, 4 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis.
RESULTS: The included studies were published between 2024 and 2026 and were conducted in Taiwan (n=1), Singapore (n=1), and China (n=2), covering partial nephrectomy (n=1), gastric submucosal tumor surgery (n=1), mastectomy (n=1), and radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer (n=1). Study designs included model-based economic evaluations (n=3) and retrospective cohort analyses using propensity score methods (n=1). RAS demonstrated long-term cost-effectiveness compared with conventional approaches, including laparoscopic and open surgery. The studies show that RAS was associated with higher quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Reported ICERs were below the respective willingness-to-pay thresholds, ranging from 0.5 to 3 times per capita GDP per QALY, supporting the economic value of RAS in Asia-Pacific countries.
CONCLUSIONS: RAS demonstrated long-term cost-effectiveness compared with conventional approaches across urology, general surgery, and gynecology. From both societal and payer perspectives, RAS represents a cost-effective strategy within current healthcare systems in the APAC region.
METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed for English-language studies published from January 2016 to May 2026 that examined the economic evaluation of RAS in the APAC. 42,620 records were identified using economic evaluation-related terms in the study titles. After applying robotic surgery-related terms (n=242), Asia-Pacific geographic terms (n=62), publication date and language restrictions (n=58), and study design filters, 12 records were retained. Following manual reviewing, 4 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis.
RESULTS: The included studies were published between 2024 and 2026 and were conducted in Taiwan (n=1), Singapore (n=1), and China (n=2), covering partial nephrectomy (n=1), gastric submucosal tumor surgery (n=1), mastectomy (n=1), and radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer (n=1). Study designs included model-based economic evaluations (n=3) and retrospective cohort analyses using propensity score methods (n=1). RAS demonstrated long-term cost-effectiveness compared with conventional approaches, including laparoscopic and open surgery. The studies show that RAS was associated with higher quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Reported ICERs were below the respective willingness-to-pay thresholds, ranging from 0.5 to 3 times per capita GDP per QALY, supporting the economic value of RAS in Asia-Pacific countries.
CONCLUSIONS: RAS demonstrated long-term cost-effectiveness compared with conventional approaches across urology, general surgery, and gynecology. From both societal and payer perspectives, RAS represents a cost-effective strategy within current healthcare systems in the APAC region.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-09, ISPOR Asia Pacific 2026, Bangkok, Thailand
Value in Health, Volume 55, Issue S1
Code
EE15
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Disease
SDC: Oncology