Debated in Parliament on 6 Nov 2023.
Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Health (a) how many registered day surgery centres are there in the public and private sectors; (b) from 2019 to 2022, what is the annual number of surgeries carried out in these centres; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider allowing more minimally invasive procedures to be done in these centres to cut down on the need for costly hospitalisation and lighten the demands on our healthcare system.
As of October 2023, there are a total of 66 licensed day surgery centres in the public and private sector.
The annual number of surgeries and procedures performed at day surgery centres has risen from 509,000 in 2019 to 565,000 in 2022.
All surgical procedures, including minimally invasive procedures, should be performed in an appropriately equipped day surgery centre, as long as the patient is assessed by a competent doctor to not require a hospital admission for perioperative monitoring and care and is not at high risk of post-procedural complications.
PAPERCUTS