Healthcare Automation Emerges as Next Growth Driver for Robotics ETFs

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Summary · why it matters

Healthcare robotics has reached mainstream scale, driven by an aging population, clinician shortages, and demand for minimally invasive procedures. Intuitive Surgical grew its da Vinci installed base 12% to 11,395 systems as of March 31, 2026, with procedures up about 16% year over year in the first quarter. Illumina and Stryker also exemplify the trend through lab automation and the Mako orthopedic system, respectively. The global healthcare robotics market is projected to rise from approximately $14.9 billion in 2023 to $57.0 billion by 2032, according to Johns Hopkins University. Among robotics ETFs, the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF holds Intuitive Surgical as its fifth position at 6.72% weight, the ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF holds Intuitive Surgical fourth at 1.77% and Illumina sixth at 1.69%, and the First Trust NASDAQ Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF holds Illumina fourth at 1.75%.

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Illumina Inc
ILMN
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Healthcare automation trend benefits Illumina through lab automation demand

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