Mariana Romero Roy
Healthcare systems are facing increasing pressure to improve access, reduce waiting times, optimize resources, and maintain high-quality outcomes. In response to these complex challenges, Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs) — also referred to as outpatient or ambulatory surgery clinics — are evolving from supplemental care settings into key facilities for future healthcare delivery.
With its established ambulatory surgery ecosystem and early access to modern technologies, North America is at the forefront of the growth of ASCs. However, Latin America is emerging as a critical frontier in the industry.
Led by early-adopting countries like Brazil and Mexico, the Latin American region is at an early but accelerating stage of ASC adoption and outpatient infrastructure expansion. This shift is being supported by medical tourism and private equity investment in premium outpatient surgical centers. For MedTech executives, pharmaceutical leaders, and medical equipment manufacturers, this decentralization of care represents a commercial opportunity that requires a tailored strategic approach.
Economics & Mechanics of the ASC Boom
One only has to look at the numbers to understand the opportunities that ASCs present:
Ambulatory Surgery Market by the Numbers
- Global market value in 2026: $54.87b
- Projected global market value by 2033: $91.46b
- Projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR): 6%
- Projected growth of the ASC market from 2024-2029: 30%
This aggressive market expansion across regions is primarily driven by powerful structural and economic incentives:
- Cost-driven migration. The economic desire to reduce the per-episode cost of surgical care is a powerful driver of the ASC market. Ambulatory surgical centers offer high-quality care at lower costs compared to traditional hospitals, attracting both patients and insurers. By operating with significantly leaner overhead and avoiding the high fixed costs of 24-hour inpatient infrastructure, these specialized facilities can deliver advanced surgical interventions at a lower price without compromising clinical outcomes
- Operational efficiency. ASCs provide more efficient check-in/check-out procedures and faster appointment scheduling. In addition to improving patient satisfaction, this efficiency enables facilities to handle increased patient volumes without sacrificing the standard of care.
- Infection control. Growing concerns over hospital-acquired infections are driving patients toward outpatient facilities. ASCs offer a more controlled, lower-traffic environment and eliminate overnight stays, which significantly reduces the risk of post-operative infections for routine procedures.
- Demographic shifts. The World Health Organization reported that noncommunicable diseases account for roughly 74% of global deaths, which continues to increase demand for elective and chronic disease-related interventions requiring procedural care. Furthermore, rising elderly population levels are supporting procedure volumes, as older adults require cataract surgery, joint replacement, cardiovascular interventions, and pain management services more frequently than younger populations.
Specialties & Technologies Driving the Outpatient Shift
To effectively capitalize on the ASC boom in Latin America, commercial teams must understand which clinical specialties and technological advancements are enabling this transition. The increasing adoption of minimally invasive surgical techniques is accelerating the growth of the ambulatory surgery market by enabling faster recovery, lower postoperative complications, and shorter hospital stays. This allows more procedures to be performed on a same-day basis.
The market is largely driven by specialized interventions such as the following:
- Ophthalmology. Ambulatory surgery accounts for 90% or more of all cataract surgeries in around three-quarters of OECD countries in 2023. This highlights the increased adoption of same-day surgical care models.
- Surgical robotics. While the overall Robotic-Assisted Surgery (RAS) market remains relatively small in Latin America compared to more mature global regions, local adoption is beginning to surge. Looking at the global landscape, the ASC surgical robotics market is expanding rapidly, valued at $180 million in 2025 and projected to reach $650 million by 2034 with a CAGR of 24%. Within this robotic sub-segment, orthopedic procedures outside of the hospital operating room (27% CAGR) and endoscopic surgery platforms (30% CAGR) represent high-growth applications. Abdominal surgery remains the most mature segment for ASC robotics, holding a 48% market share.
- Endoscopy & diagnostics. Endoscopy is increasingly being integrated into ASC services as an important part of minimally invasive diagnostics and treatments.
Strategic Imperatives for MedTech Growth
Ambulatory surgeries represent one of the most attractive growth opportunities in the MedTech sector. As healthcare continues to shift toward outpatient settings, companies that tailor their product development and commercial strategies to the specific needs of ASCs will lead the market.
However, adapting a mega-hospital sales pitch is not enough to succeed in the specialized outpatient environment. ASCs operate under different constraints, including tighter budgets, strict infection control regulations, and occasional shortages of highly specialized staff. In a fast-paced, high-turnover environment, labor-intensive workflows — such as the complex cleaning and reprocessing of certain surgical devices — can cause bottlenecks or create safety risks if the staff feels rushed.
To win procurement contracts in this space, MedTech companies must provide solutions that solve these operational difficulties. Administrators are no longer just buying medical equipment; they are buying measurable outcomes. Successful manufacturers will move beyond traditional capital sales and offer portfolios that guarantee:
- Higher patient throughput. Faster procedure times and quicker patient discharges.
- Simplified operations. Intuitive devices that reduce complexity and enhance patient safety.
- Maximized productivity. Tools that help smaller clinical teams do more without sacrificing the continuity of care.
Better economics. A radically lower total cost of ownership compared to traditional hospital equipment.
Next Steps
Contact GHI to learn more about the rapid expansion of ASCs and outpatient clinics across the region. Our team can provide the facility-level intelligence and procedural data you need to adjust your sales targets, optimize your portfolio, and capture this dynamic new market.
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Sources:
https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/industry-reports/day-case-surgery-market
https://marketintelo.com/report/ai-enabled-surgical-robotics-for-ambulatory-surgery-centers-market/amp
https://www.frost.com/news/press-releases/ambulatory-surgical-centres-poised-for-sustained-growth-as-healthcare-delivery-continues-to-shift-beyond-the-hospital/
https://www.precedenceresearch.com/endoscopy-and-ambulatory-surgical-center-market
