Dr Niaz said that using a robot to perform a gallbladder surgery costs between $1,500 and $2,000 which is equal to Rs400,000 to Rs500,000.

He said that the robotic surgery is simply a waste of money as normal procedures can be carried out at a far lower cost.

The minister said that the Sindh government has been barred from purchasing more robots for surgeries for now and the government is doing its best to save money.

He added that the government wants to prioritise affordable healthcare and that the cost needed to acquire and operate a robot could instead be used to improve the facilities at multiple hospitals.