"In the past two years, the market share of domestic surgical robots in China has continued to increase, from 32.61% in 2023 to 48.89% in 2024." In the sharing activity of "price project enabling medical science and technology innovation and development" held by the National Health Insurance Bureau on January 20, Zhang Xu, an academician of the CAS Member and professor of the Department of Urology Medicine of the PLA General Hospital, said that the research and innovation of domestic surgical robots has made great progress, but compared with 42% of American robots participating in surgery, the proportion in China is only 6.33%, and the use value of robots in surgery still needs to be improved. In order to promote the high-quality development of the surgical robot industry and help more patients benefit, the National Healthcare Security Administration released the "Guidelines for the Establishment of Medical Service Price Projects for Surgery and Treatment Auxiliary Operations (Trial)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Guidelines") on the 20th, using medical prices as the "baton", streamlining the "logic" of surgical robot fees, and scientifically and reasonably promoting disruptive innovative technologies to quickly reach hospital beds. Changing the "logic" of robot fees: In the past, surgical robot fees were determined based on factors such as surgical approach, application site, and domestic and foreign brands. This "logic" of charging based on equipment made the names of surgical robot fees unclear, and even included items such as "start-up fees", increasing the burden on patients and making it difficult for medical insurance to intervene. Surgical robots represent the development direction of precision medicine, and their level of participation in surgery and contribution to promoting precision surgery determine their clinical value. ”Wang Xiaoning, Director of the Medical Pricing and Tendering Procurement Department of the National Medical Insurance Administration, said that the guidelines set up three pricing items for surgical robots, including navigation, participation in execution, and precise execution. For example, robots that provide visualization conditions for surgery through ultrasound technology can charge surgical ultrasound guidance assistance fees; By using a surgical robotic arm platform to assist medical personnel in manipulating surgical instruments through mapping control, and participating in the construction of channels, drilling, and other surgical steps, a surgical robotic arm auxiliary operation fee can be charged for participating in the execution; When assisting in the precise completion of all or key steps of the surgery, fees that match the precise execution can be charged. This "pay for work" approach can enable surgical robots with higher participation, more comprehensive functions, and more precise execution to obtain higher charging coefficients. This means that products with OEM or only "planning functions" are difficult to "fish in the mud" in clinical fee items, and only hardcore technologies that truly solve clinical pain points, achieve precise execution, and generate clear clinical value can obtain reasonable returns. The guide has refined the charging items and clarified the corresponding charging scenarios, and the charging 'logic' reflected in it acknowledges the clinical value of robots. ”Zhao Wuyi, Director of Product Marketing Department of Shenzhen Jingfeng Medical Technology Co., Ltd., said that the company's independently developed porous and single hole endoscopic surgical robots have completed more than 14000 clinical surgeries. Recognizing the clinical value of surgical robots will further shorten the promotion cycle of new technologies and promote the market recognition of self-developed products. Expanding the scale of precision surgery implementation "With the assistance of surgical robots, surgeries that originally generated large incisions can be completed through porous or even single hole operations. ”Zhang Xu introduced that the technology requirements for single hole robots are relatively high, and currently multiple domestic companies have approved their products in this field. The guidelines will further guide qualified medical institutions to use surgical robots for remote surgery, expanding the clinical application scale of precision surgery. In order to promote the large-scale application of surgical robotic arms, the guideline prospectively sets up a "remote surgical auxiliary operation fee" pricing project. Experts in medical resource gathering areas can charge according to the guideline project when conducting remote surgeries for patients in other areas. Shu Biao, Director of Technology and Business Development at Shanghai Minimally Invasive Medical Robot Company, told reporters that remote surgical robots have completed a large number of complex human surgeries and can provide practical and feasible technical solutions for patients in remote areas. The establishment of remote surgical assistance operation fees in the guide will help more high-quality surgical robots enter the market, benefit more patients with advanced medical technology, and promote the universal and balanced distribution of high-quality medical resources. Wang Xiaoning stated that the National Healthcare Security Administration will comprehensively complete the compilation of guidelines, promote the basic unification of national medical service price items, and ensure that the public can obtain high-quality, efficient, and affordable medical services. (New Society)