Why more Singaporeans are choosing day surgery – and the procedures you might not expect
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- An increasing number of Singaporeans are opting for day surgery due to preferences for shorter hospital stays and home recovery.
- Advancements in surgical techniques and anesthesia have made day surgery a viable and often preferred option for many procedures.
- Insurance policies generally cover day surgeries, and patients can use MediSave to offset costs, dispelling a common misconception.
The trend towards day surgery is gaining momentum in Singapore, driven by a growing preference among patients, particularly younger generations, for shorter hospital stays and recovery at home. This shift reflects a desire for more familiar and less disruptive recovery environments compared to traditional hospital wards.
The younger generations are increasingly preferring shorter hospital stays and home-based recovery models. (They view) prolonged hospitalisation as less desirable when equivalent care can be delivered outside the hospital setting. More informed patients are also speaking to me about day surgery options.
Dr. Chia Shi-Lu, a senior orthopedic surgeon, notes that patients are increasingly informed and inquire about day surgery options, viewing prolonged hospitalization as less desirable when equivalent care can be provided outside the hospital. This preference is supported by advancements in minimally invasive surgery, regional anesthesia, and optimized post-operative pain management, making day surgery suitable for a wider range of procedures.
Suitable cases that meet the criteria are usually recommended for day surgery, and surgeons will explain this option during consultation.
Several major hospitals in Singapore report a significant increase in day surgeries. National University Hospital (NUH) sees 30-40% of its surgeries performed as day procedures, up from 20% a decade ago. Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) performed 80% of its elective surgeries without warding between 2023 and 2025, while KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) performs day surgery for approximately one in three elective procedures for women.
advancements in surgical and anaesthesia techniques, including minimally invasive surgery, regional anaesthesia and optimised post-operative pain management, have made day surgery increasingly the standard of care suitable for many procedures
Concerns about insurance coverage for day surgeries are largely unfounded. Associate Professor Alfred Kow Wei Chieh clarifies that day surgery procedures, which involve post-operation monitoring for several hours, are generally claimable under most insurance policies. Furthermore, patients can utilize MediSave to help cover costs, often in conjunction with their insurance, making day surgery an accessible and practical choice for many.
Day surgery procedures, where patients are monitored in the day surgery ward for several hours after the operation, are generally claimable under most insurance policies. Patients may also use MediSave to offset part of the cost alongside their insurance coverage.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by CNA. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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