Prof Dr PC Biswas, head of Department of Urology at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Photo : Collected

By Borun Kumar Dash and Abdur Rouf

DHAKA, Jan 7, 2026 (BSS)- Despite the advent of expensive robotic surgery, laparoscopic and minimally invasive procedures done without opening the abdomen, are highly popular in urological treatment. 

A plan is underway to deliver these advanced affordable services to people’s doorsteps across the country.

Prof Dr PC Biswas, member secretary of the Bangladesh Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) told BSS. 

Prof. PC Biswas, also head of Department of Urology at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), was talking with BSS about the current state of urology services and public awareness in the country.

He said in the past, people could not clearly identify urological problems and often sought care from general surgery or medicine departments.
 
Now, awareness has increased significantly. Men and women alike come directly to urologists when they experience pain on either side of the abdomen or waist, lower abdominal discomfort, or any urinary complications, he noted.

He added that during investigations for other illnesses, if problems related to the kidneys, urinary bladder, urethra, prostate gland, or male reproductive organs are detected, physicians from other specialties now routinely refer patients to urologists. As a result, a clear understanding of urology services has developed in the country, he said.

Describing modern urological treatment methods, he explained that most urological treatments are surgery-based, although some conditions, such as infections, can be treated with medications like antibiotics. For stones or tumors, there is no longer a need for traditional open surgery involving large incisions or kidney removal, he said. 

With advanced endoscopic or natural orifice techniques, instruments can be introduced through the urinary tract to reach the kidney for treatment. Techniques to remove stones by creating small punctures from outside the body are also now common, he said.

He mentioned advanced procedures such as URS, ICPL, laser therapy, PCNL and RIRS, adding that kidney or bladder tumors and cancers can now be treated very precisely through laparoscopic surgery without opening the abdomen.

Asked about robotic surgery, Prof Biswas said it has become extremely popular in the developed world, particularly for cancer and tumor operations, where it can be even more beneficial than laparoscopy.

“Robotic surgery allows cancer procedures to be performed with such precision that complete cancer clearance is often possible,” he said.

However, he noted that robotic surgery is relatively expensive under the country’s present socio-economic context. 

“Still, to keep pace with global standards of care and outcomes, robotic surgery is necessary—especially at tertiary-level medical institutions such as Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh Medical University, and the National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology (NIKDU),” he added.

Considering the socio-economic condition of the general population, Prof Biswas emphasized prioritizing laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery after conventional open surgery. “Expecting all patients to come to Dhaka for treatment is not a solution,” he said.

He explained that BAUS has taken an initiative to decentralize laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery by expanding it beyond Dhaka to divisional and district-level medical colleges. 

To this end, they are developing local faculty and trainers, he said adding through small workshops outside Dhaka, urologists will be trained so they can provide modern treatment for kidney, bladder or ureteric stones and tumors in their own districts. “This will enable patients to receive advanced healthcare at low cost in their local areas,” he said.

On prevention of kidney and urological diseases, the DMC professor cautioned against the common misconception that as much as drinking water always keeps the kidneys healthy.
 
“Water intake should be balanced according to a person’s age, weight, physical structure and working environment,” he said.

“Neither too much nor too little water is advisable. In some cases, doctors may recommend increasing or reducing intake. Those who work in hot environments or sweat excessively should drink more water to maintain proper urine flow, which reduces the risk of urinary infections and stone formation,” he explained.

Regarding diet, Prof Biswas said that common local foods-such as lentils, rice, fish and vegetables-are sufficient for good health. 
However, to avoid urological diseases, excessive consumption of red meat (beef and mutton) should be avoided, as it has several harmful effects in urological conditions, he said.
He also advised against excessive intake of underground vegetables such as potatoes, radish, carrots and taro, as well as seed-based and pulse-type foods, noting that they often contain high levels of fat and salt, which can be harmful to the kidneys.

Prof Biswas identified exposure to various chemicals and smoking as major risk factors for bladder cancer. 

He also advised people with diabetes and high blood pressure to strictly follow proper management guidelines, as uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension directly damage the kidneys.