Premier David Eby Directs $60 Million to Equip 10 Regional Hospitals with Robotic Surgery Systems

VICTORIA, BC — Premier David Eby and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced a $60 million provincial medical capital investment to purchase and install 10 advanced da Vinci surgical robotic systems across regional public hospitals in British Columbia.

Cutting Patient Recovery Times and Hospital Stays by 50%

The robotic surgical suites will be installed at University Hospital of Northern BC (Prince George), Kelowna General Hospital, Royal Jubilee Hospital (Victoria), and Surrey Memorial Hospital, enabling surgeons to perform minimally invasive urological, gynecological, and colorectal cancer surgeries with sub-millimeter precision. Clinical data demonstrates that robotic-assisted surgery cuts hospital inpatient recovery stays from five days to 24 hours, freeing up hundreds of surgical beds and cutting provincial elective surgery waitlists.

Premier Eby affirmed that every British Columbian, whether living in the North or the Lower Mainland, deserves access to the most advanced medical technology available.

Doctors of BC and Surgical Specialties Endorse

Doctors of BC and the BC Surgical Society praised the capital expansion, highlighting that modern surgical equipment aids in recruiting and retaining top surgical specialists in regional communities.

Cancer Care Ontario and BC Cancer oncology teams celebrated the expansion of minimally invasive cancer resections.

Hospital Installation Timeline

Robotic surgical systems will begin clinical commissioning in November 2026, with patient operations starting in January 2027.