Father Muller Strengthens Surgical Precision and Diabetic Limb Preservation with KARL STORZ RUBINA® and PRAYAS Initiative
Mangalore: The spirit of innovation and compassionate healthcare marked a significant milestone at Father Muller Medical College Hospital on 21 May 2026 with the inauguration of the advanced KARL STORZ IMAGE1 S™ RUBINA® endoscopic visualization platform and the launch of the nationwide Podiatric Reach Across India for Awareness and Screening (PRAYAS) initiative.
The dual inauguration was formally conducted by Rev. Fr. Faustine Lucas Lobo, Director of Father Muller Charitable Institutions, in the presence of administrators, faculty, clinicians, and healthcare professionals.
The Department of Surgical Oncology at the Father Muller Oncology Centre, under the leadership of Professor Dr. Rohanchandra R. Gatty, commissioned the latest laparoscopic technology to further strengthen minimally invasive oncological surgeries and enhance patient outcomes. Rev. Fr. Faustine blessed the advanced system and formally dedicated it to the department, reaffirming the institution’s commitment towards precise, dignified, and patient-centric cancer care.
Dr. Rohanchandra R. Gatty briefed the gathering on the growing scope of surgical oncology services and highlighted the immense benefits the new platform would bring to complex oncological procedures. Associate Professor Dr. Elroy Saldanha delivered the vote of thanks and expressed gratitude to the management for expediting the procurement of the sophisticated equipment in response to the expanding surgical needs of the department.
The newly installed KARL STORZ IMAGE1 S™ RUBINA® is an advanced endoscopic visualization platform integrating cutting-edge technologies into a single system. The platform offers ultra-high-definition 4K imaging with superior brightness and colour representation, enabling surgeons to perform procedures with remarkable clarity and precision. Its 3D stereoscopic visualization restores depth perception and spatial orientation, thereby enhancing accuracy during intricate minimally invasive surgeries.
A major highlight of the system is the incorporation of Near-Infrared/Indocyanine Green (NIR/ICG) fluorescence imaging technology, which allows real-time tissue assessment and improved delineation of critical anatomical structures such as blood vessels and bile ducts. The system is further equipped with the Power LED Rubina® laser-free cold light source designed for both white-light and NIR/ICG excitation, making it highly versatile across multiple surgical disciplines.
Following the commissioning ceremony, the Diabetic Foot Screening Camp under the nationwide PRAYAS initiative was inaugurated by Rev. Fr. Faustine Lucas Lobo in the presence of Professor Dr. Smitha Bhat, Head of the Department of General Medicine. The initiative was organised by the Department of General Medicine in association with PRAYAS, India’s first national limb-preservation mission on wheels.
Dr. Srilakshmi M. Prabhu, Associate Professor of General Medicine and Convenor of the programme, addressed the gathering and emphasized the importance of early diabetic foot screening and preventive care. She also requested the operationalisation of the PRAYAS vehicle within the campus to facilitate large-scale diabetic foot screening and awareness activities.
Distinguished dignitaries associated with the PRAYAS movement who were present included Dr. Pavan Belehalli, Orthopedic and Diabetic Foot Surgeon and Founder & Director of StrideAide; Dr. Sanjay Sharma, Pediatric Surgeon and Wound Care Specialist and Founder of FootSecure; Bharath Prakash, Project Manager of StrideAide and national coordination lead; Dr. Bharat Kumar Muralidhar, Project Lead; and Aruna V. S., Nurse and PRAYAS D-PoC Lead.
Also present during the occasion was Rev. Fr. George Jeevan Sequeira, Administrator of Father Muller Medical College Hospital, who facilitated the logistics and arrangements for both the commissioning and inaugural ceremonies.
PRAYAS stands as a nationwide movement dedicated to combating diabetes-related amputations through awareness, screening, policy advocacy, and clinician engagement. Traversing 62 cities over seven months and covering more than 10,000 kilometres through 124 events, the initiative seeks to unite clinicians, policymakers, institutions, and communities in preserving mobility and saving lives.
The campaign underscores the alarming burden of diabetic foot disease in India, where over 101 million people live with diabetes, placing more than 202 million limbs at risk. With approximately 1.4 lakh major amputations occurring annually and a five-year mortality rate post-amputation reaching nearly 70 percent, the initiative seeks to strengthen preventive healthcare and reduce avoidable limb loss through timely intervention and education.
By integrating advanced surgical technology with proactive community healthcare initiatives, Father Muller Medical College Hospital once again reaffirmed its enduring mission of delivering compassionate, technologically advanced, and socially responsive healthcare to society.