The Association of Minimal Access Surgeons of India (AMASI) was founded in 2003 as a dedicated subsection of the Association of Surgeons of India (ASI) with the visionary leadership of Dr. C. Palanivelu — an internationally acclaimed laparoscopic surgeon, teacher, and author. What began as a passionate initiative to promote laparoscopic surgery has since grown into one of the largest minimal access surgical associations in the world, boasting over 17,200 active members from every region of India. AMASI’s core mission is to elevate surgical standards through comprehensive education and advanced training in laparoscopic techniques, truly living its ethos of “MAS for Mass.” Under Dr. Palanivelu’s influence, laparoscopy has reached even taluk-level hospitals across India — bringing modern surgery closer to patients everywhere — and he has been honored with the prestigious B. C. Roy Award for his national impact.
In recent years, AMASI has transformed surgical education with flagship programs and international collaborations. In 2024–25 alone, the AMASI LENS Live Surgery Program reached over 10,000 global participants with real-time surgical sessions, while CME and fellowship programs trained thousands of surgeons nationwide. FMAS Skill Courses certified nearly 1,500 surgeons across 11 locations, and specialized fellowships achieved a 100% completion rate — strengthening the next generation of minimal access surgeons. AMASI events like AMASICON brought together surgeons and experts for cutting-edge workshops and networking that accelerate innovation. The Association also partners with leading institutions — for instance, collaborating with JIPMER on advanced fellowships in hepatopancreatobiliary minimal access surgery attended by surgeons from across India.