Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE) proposed further expansion of “day surgery” in Belgium

Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE) stated that further expansion of ‘day surgery’ is possible with provision of financial encouragement of the hospitals and good safety at home.

The concept of ‘day surgery’ allows patients to be hospitalized for surgery and be discharged on the same day. There are large variations in day-surgery activity between countries and in countries between hospitals. For some surgical procedures (e.g. cataract surgery, tonsillectomy) Belgium keeps pace with other Western European countries, while for other procedures (e.g. laparoscopic cholecystectomy, partial excision of a mammary gland) it falls far behind.

KCE developed recommendations of implementation of ‘day surgery” in clinical practice to Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Health, to the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (RIZIV – INAMI) and the Federal Public Service (FOD – SPF) for Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment and to hospitals.

Full report in English can be obtained here.