Gary Guthart, the executive chairman of US medical technology company Intuitive Surgical, highlighted the company's growing footprint in the Chinese market on Oct 11, ahead of the annual meeting of the International Business Leaders' Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai.

He emphasized the company's long-standing presence in the country and its focus on integrating artificial intelligence into robot-assisted surgery.

This marks Guthart's second year attending the IBLAC forum. "It's an honor to be back in Shanghai," he said.

Guthart noted that Intuitive Surgical, now in its 30th year, has supported care teams in treating more than 17 million patients worldwide, including 800,000 in China.

"We established a joint venture with Fosun Pharma here in Shanghai in 2017," Guthart said. "We are delighted to be part of the Shanghai ecosystem for advanced medical technology."

The company has trained approximately 15,000 Chinese care teams and operates seven training centers across the country, along with an innovation center in Beijing.

Despite its three decades of operation, Guthart believes the company is still at the beginning of its journey.

When discussing how to expand access to advanced medical solutions, Guthart outlined a framework centered on a positive patient experience, a supportive environment for healthcare teams, lower treatment costs, and broader access to quality care.

He praised the Shanghai government's forward-looking policies and stressed that strong hospital partnerships, a robust talent ecosystem, and a healthy business environment are key to accelerating innovation and accessibility.

Addressing competition from domestic robotics firms, Guthart said Intuitive Surgical maintains a broad perspective. "We respect those who offer different options. Our goal is to be the first choice," he stated.

Guthart confirmed that AI and machine learning are already integral to Intuitive's systems, not just future concepts. The company applies AI for predictive maintenance, telemedicine, and provides surgeons with real-time feedback through machine vision.

He emphasized that the key lies in enhancing collaboration between skilled medical professionals and advanced technology.

Speaking about global supply chain challenges, including tariff concerns, Guthart acknowledged the complexity of operating with over 10,000 components sourced worldwide. He advocated for stable and fair trade policies to ensure patients everywhere receive high-quality care. "We are interdependent internationally," he noted.

Guthart commended platforms such as IBLAC for fostering dialogue between multinational companies and the government. "Having a multi-year plan and a way for multinational companies to communicate and share ideas is a fantastic idea," he said.

He suggested that Shanghai can further strengthen its leadership in the healthcare sector by enhancing policy support for digital transformation, including greater data transparency, stronger cybersecurity, and improved privacy protection.