Economic Benefits of Reduced Waiting Times for Elective Surgeries: A Systematic Literature Review

This systematic literature review aims to explore studies that assess the cost-effectiveness of reducing waiting times in elective surgeries. We conducted a systematic search of the MEDLINE/PubMed and Embase/Scopus electronic databases on March 12, 2024. Eligibility criteria included elective surgery and economic evaluation of waiting times, while transplantation surgery procedures were excluded. Due to the anticipated heterogeneity of the studies, the review was presented in a narrative synthesis format. Nine articles met the inclusion criteria, covering elective surgery procedures in the musculoskeletal system (four articles), cardiovascular system (two articles), ophthalmic system (one article), and gastrointestinal tract (two articles). The evidence from this review suggests that reducing waiting times in elective surgery is highly cost-effective and often cost-saving. While it may be argued that accounting for specific elective surgeries and specific countries limits the generalizability of the findings, the review provides quantitative evidence that supports the value of reducing waiting times.