Moroccan Doctor Helps Pioneer Robotic Surgery in Spain
An internal resident in the Urology Department at ROC Clinic and HM Sanchinarro University Hospital in Madrid, Dr. Belkahia participated in the successful completion of the first robotic radical cystectomy performed with the da Vinci Single Port system in Spain. This technical feat had only been operated on twice before in Europe.
Conducted as part of a latest-generation minimally invasive surgery program, this operation marks a turning point in the treatment of invasive bladder cancer, one of the most formidable in oncological urology, Dr. Ricardo Brime, head of the hospital's Robotic Surgery Unit, told MAP.
Thanks to a single incision, the da Vinci SP robot allows access to complex anatomical areas while reducing risks, pain, and recovery times, he stressed.
The young Moroccan surgeon described this advancement as a foundational experience for him, both humanly and professionally.
"Participating in this innovative surgery means touching the future of medicine. It's experiencing from within a technological revolution that places patient safety and comfort at the center of the surgical act," he told MAP.
It's also, according to him, a way to proudly represent Morocco in Europe's most advanced operating rooms, contributing to global medical excellence while remaining deeply attached to his roots.
Trained at Complutense University of Madrid, and then holding a master's in medical knowledge integration from the Catholic University of Murcia, Dr. Belkahia embodies this generation of Moroccan doctors who combine rigorous training, scientific curiosity, and international openness.
His career is already marked by several honorary distinctions: best scientific communication at the 14th National Congress of Health Sciences Students Research (2019), best prize at the 18th Congress of Biomedical Sciences in Madrid, and another prize at the CIOGEM International Congress in Gynecology and Obstetrics.
"Dr. Ghali Belkahia, one of the team's most advanced residents, was entrusted with key steps in the urinary diversion during this complex intervention, testifying both to his high level of training and the confidence placed in him by the medical community," affirmed Dr. Vital Hevia, a specialist in uro-oncology.
An active member of several renowned medical institutions, including the European Association of Urology (EAU), the Spanish Association of Urology (AEU), and the Illustrious Official College of Physicians of Madrid (ICOMEM), Dr. Belkahia also distinguishes himself through his commitment to sharing knowledge and transmitting best practices.
His participation in this landmark operation once again illustrates the growing role played by Moroccans around the world in the fields of medical research and surgical innovation.
Fortified by this experience acquired within a European reference center, the young Moroccan surgeon displays his determination to continue his journey in cutting-edge medical environments, while remaining attached to his roots and fully aware of the potential Moroccan doctors hold in health and surgical innovation.
In a constantly changing medical world, Ghali Belkahia's name is now among those shaping the medicine of tomorrow, with humility and ambition.
MAP: 10 July 2025
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