What if I have anal fissure or fistula problems?
What if I have anal fissure or fistula problems in Singapore: $587 – $3,330 in a subsidised ward (Ward C), based on MOH Bill Size Benchmarks. Average hospital stay: 1.8 days.
Anal conditions including fissures, fistulas, and abscesses.
Hospital bill by ward class
- Ward C (Subsidised · 8-9 beds): $587 – $3,330
- Ward B2 (Subsidised · 6 beds): $694 – $3,212
- Ward B1 (Non-subsidised): $2,613 – $6,802
- Private (Single room): $2,163 – $24,004
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, January–December 2023. Costs are after government subsidies but before MediShield Life or private insurance.
Treatment options
- Anal fissure excision:
- Fistula-in-ano (simple): $712 – $1,553 (Ward C)
- Fistula-in-ano (complex/recurrent):
- Perianal abscess drainage: $587 – $1,765 (Ward C)
- Anal dilatation:
- Transanal rectal lesion removal: $1,868 – $3,330 (Ward C)
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What if I have anal fissure or fistula problems?
7:30 AM
Every morning is painful. Sharp, burning pain that lasts an hour after.
You've been putting off seeing a doctor for three months.
You've been putting off seeing a doctor for three months.
The GP refers you to a colorectal surgeon. It's more complicated than a simple fissure.
50%
of anal fistulas require surgery to fully resolve
A procedure under general anaesthetic.
Usually day surgery, home the same day.
Usually day surgery, home the same day.
Fissures may heal with topical treatment or Botox injections. Fistulas almost always need a surgical procedure to drain and repair the tract.
Recovery takes longer than you expected.
Then the bill arrives.
Then the bill arrives.
Treatment breakdown
It depends on the treatment
What they do determines the bill. Tap to see costs by ward class.
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, Jan–Dec 2023
Anal fissure excision
$5,568 – $7,325
Private
Private$5,568 – $7,325
Fistula-in-ano (simple)
$712 – $1,553
Ward C
Ward C$712 – $1,553
Ward B2$694 – $2,369
Ward B1$2,927 – $6,802
Private$5,951 – $14,297
Fistula-in-ano (complex/recurrent)
$7,955 – $19,240
Private
Private$7,955 – $19,240
Perianal abscess drainage
$587 – $1,765
Ward C
Ward C$587 – $1,765
Ward B2$841 – $1,716
Ward B1$2,613 – $3,856
Private$4,451 – $15,009
Anal dilatation
$2,163 – $4,911
Private
Private$2,163 – $4,911
Transanal rectal lesion removal
$1,868 – $3,330
Ward C
Ward C$1,868 – $3,330
Ward B2$1,692 – $3,212
Private$16,013 – $24,004
Your hospital bill
$0
Ward C (subsidised) · worst case · after subsidies, before insurance
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, Jan–Dec 2023
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, Jan–Dec 2023
But what does this actually mean for your wallet?
The bottom line
For this scenario, you need at least
$3,330
in cash. That's after government subsidies but before any insurance kicks in.
Your ward, your bill
Subsidised · 8-9 beds · After subsidies, before insurance
~2 months
of HDB mortgage
~11%
of avg Medisave
~0.7 months
of median salary
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks · Data period: Jan–Dec 2023 · Compiled by Keith Teo
Make it personal
What does this mean for you?
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$
Ward class matters
Where you stay changes everything
Same condition. The ward determines the bill.
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, Jan–Dec 2023
Ward C · Subsidised · 8-9 beds
$587 – $3,330
Ward B2 · Subsidised · 6 beds
$694 – $3,212
Ward B1 · Non-subsidised
$2,613 – $6,802
No more subsidies below
Private · Single room
$2,163 – $24,004
up to 7x Ward C
Insurance impact
What insurance actually does
Ward C bill. The bar shows how much you still pay.
$587 – $3,330
No insurance. You pay the full bill out of pocket or Medisave.
Good to know
Average Medisave balance ($31,000) covers this 9x in Ward C
Beyond the hospital bill
These costs are just the hospital stay
After discharge, expect ongoing costs that for many patients exceed the initial bill.
Dietary managementOngoing medicationFollow-up endoscopiesSpecialist reviewsLab monitoring
And these costs keep rising. Healthcare costs are up 12% since 2020, outpacing general inflation.
If the worst happens
When someone dies in Singapore,
banks freeze every account.
Your family can't withdraw a single dollar until the legal process is complete. Most Singaporeans aren't prepared.
56%
of Singaporean adults don't have a will
40%
of under-65s have no CPF nomination
With a will
2-6 months to settle. Funeral, lawyer, and court fees combined.
~S$6,400
No will
6-12+ months to settle. Legal fees alone are S$10K-$20K. Contested estates reach S$93,000+.
S$10K–$93K+
While your family waits, mortgage payments, insurance premiums, and utility bills keep coming out of their own pockets.
What to do now
5 things to check today
1
Don't ignore symptoms
Persistent stomach pain, blood in stool, or unexplained weight loss warrant a doctor visit, not a Google search.
2
Consider a colonoscopy
If you're 50+, regular colonoscopy screening catches problems early when they're cheaper and easier to treat.
3
Check what your insurance actually covers
Log into CPF, go to My Healthcare, check MediShield Life or ISP coverage. Look for your ward class limit and claim caps.
4
Know your Medisave withdrawal limits
Your Medisave balance doesn't mean that amount is available for one bill. There are per-day and per-procedure caps.
5
Write a will and make a CPF nomination
A simple will starts from S$99. CPF nomination is free at cpf.gov.sg. Without these, your family faces months of legal process and S$10K+ in fees.