Robotic Surgery: A Budget Analysis in the Italian Healthcare Setting
Author(s)
Francesca Borghetti, MSc1, Roberta Respigo, MSc2, MARA CORBO, Eng.3, Elisa Tacconi, .2.
1Value, Access & Policy Manager, Medtronic Italia SpA, Milano, Italy, 2Medtronic Italia SpA, Milano, Italy, 3Medtronic Italia Spa, Milano, Italy.
1Value, Access & Policy Manager, Medtronic Italia SpA, Milano, Italy, 2Medtronic Italia SpA, Milano, Italy, 3Medtronic Italia Spa, Milano, Italy.
OBJECTIVES: In Italy, the percentage of surgical procedures using open surgery is still high, in many cases exceeding 40-50%. In recent years, the volume of procedures carried out using minimally invasive techniques has been increasing. The objective of this study is to conduct a budget impact analysis that evaluates the cost implications of a steady increase in the use of robotics for major surgical procedures over the next five years.
METHODS: A budget impact model was developed to analyze hospital costs for different surgical approaches across urological, gynecological, and general surgeries, with a population of 500 patients per procedure type (prostatectomy, nephrectomy, hysterectomy, cystectomy, myomectomy, gastrectomy, colectomy, splenectomy, and ureteral reimplantation) for a total of 5,500 procedures each year. The costs of medical devices, operating room, hospital stay, personnel, and complications were considered. Costs related to the HUGO® robotic platform were used. For procedure duration, length of stay, and complication rates, the increase/decrease of percentages of surgical techniques, data from the Agenas HTA report were utilized.
RESULTS: Out of a total of 5,500 procedures, the percentage of robotic procedures is supposed to increase from an average of 18% in the first year to 44% in the fifth year. The percentage of open procedures decreased from 62% to 45%, while laparoscopic procedures dropped from 33% to 20%.
Hospital costs in the first year amounted to €41,969,037 (€22,354,725, €12,409,251, and €7,205,060 for open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery, respectively). By the fifth year, costs were €41,231,071 (€15,685,692, €7,881,995, and €17,663,383, for open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: The budget impact analysis suggests that the medium-term adoption of robotic surgery may not result in higher costs for the hospitals. Further analyses are needed to assess how variability in the different inputs could affect the final cost, including evaluations of worst and best-case scenarios.
METHODS: A budget impact model was developed to analyze hospital costs for different surgical approaches across urological, gynecological, and general surgeries, with a population of 500 patients per procedure type (prostatectomy, nephrectomy, hysterectomy, cystectomy, myomectomy, gastrectomy, colectomy, splenectomy, and ureteral reimplantation) for a total of 5,500 procedures each year. The costs of medical devices, operating room, hospital stay, personnel, and complications were considered. Costs related to the HUGO® robotic platform were used. For procedure duration, length of stay, and complication rates, the increase/decrease of percentages of surgical techniques, data from the Agenas HTA report were utilized.
RESULTS: Out of a total of 5,500 procedures, the percentage of robotic procedures is supposed to increase from an average of 18% in the first year to 44% in the fifth year. The percentage of open procedures decreased from 62% to 45%, while laparoscopic procedures dropped from 33% to 20%.
Hospital costs in the first year amounted to €41,969,037 (€22,354,725, €12,409,251, and €7,205,060 for open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery, respectively). By the fifth year, costs were €41,231,071 (€15,685,692, €7,881,995, and €17,663,383, for open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: The budget impact analysis suggests that the medium-term adoption of robotic surgery may not result in higher costs for the hospitals. Further analyses are needed to assess how variability in the different inputs could affect the final cost, including evaluations of worst and best-case scenarios.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
MT37
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care, Medical Technologies
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Surgery