5G technology has become an essential part of the healthcare revolution in the Asia-Pacific region.

With 5G, healthcare facilities will improve home healthcare services such as better video connectivity between caregivers and patients over 5G mobile networks and secure information.

Additionally, 5G will enable a range of other wearable remote health monitoring devices that are expected to be key to making home health care a viable treatment and recovery option. The low latency of 5G services will allow nurses and doctors to monitor patients in real time.

Thanks to advances in 5G, patients can receive digitally encrypted prescriptions from their doctors without leaving their homes. And 5G has also opened the door for doctors and medical professionals to reach patients remotely, especially those living in rural areas, where patients would otherwise not have access to the expertise needed to help treat their illnesses without 5G connectivity.

With high-speed 5G connection, extremely low latency, ensuring near-real-time operations will help doctors perform surgeries and remote consultations effectively. Thereby helping patients easily access a team of good doctors at a more reasonable cost.

Asia Pacific has always been at the forefront of technological advancement and innovation. However, the unprecedented challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have forced healthcare systems across the region to reassess their strategies. In this era of profound change and adaptation, the integration of 5G technology into healthcare has emerged as a transformative force.

COVID-19 is the catalyst

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed significant gaps in the healthcare systems of both advanced and developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The COVID-19 pandemic has also demonstrated that any highly contagious disease can quickly overwhelm healthcare infrastructure and cause severe economic consequences.

This highlights the fact that current healthcare systems are not equipped to handle a pandemic of this scale. However, the COVID-19 crisis has also created a shift towards the adoption of digital technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and big data in the healthcare industry across the Asia-Pacific region.

These digital technology innovations have enabled policymakers to envision a hybrid healthcare industry where traditional hospitals and healthcare systems merge with digital technology systems.

How are countries in the region driving 5G-based healthcare innovation?

5G technology has become an essential part of the healthcare revolution in the Asia-Pacific region. Several countries have taken innovative steps to increase access and improve healthcare services.

China

The government is implementing the “Healthy China 2030” strategy, aiming to reform the health security system. This is considered the first document of China to systematically and comprehensively address the overall strategy, general and specific goals, general direction, and main tasks to build a healthy country to meet the cause of reform and opening up in the new context.

The strategy aims to bring together various stakeholders from the healthcare, pharmaceutical and health insurance sectors. Its main objective is to address the imbalance between the supply and demand of healthcare and health services, ultimately providing affordable healthcare to the population.

The strategy recognizes the importance of harnessing big data and emerging technologies in diagnosis, management and treatment. Key consumer demands for digital healthcare services include online drug purchases, direct insurance billing and online prescription drug consultations.

In 2020, China initiated a standardization project, bringing together hospitals, research institutes, and leading 5G providers to research and establish standards for 5G applications in the medical industry. The project helps build a 5G medical network based on unified standards to strengthen the infrastructure of smart hospitals.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, China has also deployed an advanced 5G-based disease monitoring and surveillance system, including 5G+ thermal imaging surveillance, 5G smart robots, 5G drones, 5G ambulances, etc.

More than 700 hospitals in China have deployed 5G and started pilot projects or commercial applications. By equipping existing devices with 5G modules and integrating 5G modules into new devices, a large number of 5G services have been deployed in more and more hospitals.

India

As the world’s second most populous country, India now sees digital adoption as the only way to address the burden on its public health system. With the application of technology, telemedicine not only for diagnosing diseases but also for monitoring patients remotely, has been mentioned when India started digitizing the healthcare sector in recent years.

In 2020, the Indian government announced the launch of a project to store health information for all citizens called the “National Digital Health Mission”. Accordingly, each Indian citizen will have an identification number (ID) to store personal health records including medical tests, medical history, prescriptions and other medical information.

Connecting high-speed 5G networks to existing architectures could enable the rapid and reliable transfer of massive medical imaging data files, which could improve both access to services and quality of care.

A notable innovation was made by Indian telecom operator Bharti Airtel in collaboration with renowned Apollo Hospitals to launch a 5G-connected ambulance. In the coming years, 5G will also aid in connecting with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology to help doctors explain diagnoses and assist in surgeries to patients remotely.

Japan

Japan is actively promoting the digitalization of its healthcare sector, especially the application of advanced technologies such as 5G and artificial intelligence in the treatment and healthcare of patients. 5G technology will disrupt and transform the healthcare industry in Japan, especially in the fields of telemedicine, wearable healthcare devices and the use of virtual reality for healthcare.

Mobile operator NTT DoCoMo and elderly care startup Tellus You Care have teamed up to conduct a trial of technology to remotely monitor residents of elderly care facilities. The technology uses wearable, wireless communication devices that can detect human activities in indoor locations and notify family members or doctors of unusual situations. The technology could help address the shortage of medical staff in Japan; doctors or nurses can monitor their patients, no matter where they are.

5G can provide the stability, reliability, and consistent performance needed for electronic devices to connect to patient data. Therefore, 5G will be able to address the current growing social trends in Japan such as the increasingly aging population. 5G technology is expected to continue to develop and facilitate innovation in the healthcare industry in Japan in the coming years.

Korea

South Korea has also taken comprehensive steps in the field of digital healthcare, including initiatives such as contact tracing, vaccination, and telemedicine. The government is also updating privacy laws and providing financial support to encourage the participation of startups and technology companies in developing and deploying technology.

In Korea, 5G coverage is already relatively widespread, with more than 80% of the population covered and user demand for 5G services higher than in most other countries. Therefore, Korea is a potential market for telecommunications companies to invest in the digital health sector.

Over the years, the country's two leading telecommunications operators, SK Telecom and KT Telecom, have formed partnerships to provide advanced digital healthcare solutions to improve the experience of patients and healthcare providers.

SK Telecom also plans to equip patient rooms at its 5G-enabled hospital with devices being developed in partnership with Yonsei University Health System. This will allow patients to control features such as lighting and bed position with their voice, as well as call for assistance. The partners signed a memorandum of understanding in April 2019 and plan to use 5G connectivity to enable features such as 3D mapping technology and facial recognition systems to track patients and visitors.

In addition to SK Telecom and Yonsei University’s plans to build a 5G-enabled hospital, KT Telecom has also announced a partnership to build a 5G-enabled medical center with Samsung Medical Center (SMC) in Seoul. The joint project will utilize augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) for real-time education and digital pathology analysis. It will take advantage of the high bandwidth and low latency provided by 5G to deliver high-quality AR and VR experiences, while also allowing for rapid and reliable transfer of large volumes of sensitive data between parties for analysis.

Singapore

Singapore is known for its advanced infrastructure and technological advancements. With the advent of 5G, the country will see significant transformation in various sectors, including healthcare, education, and transportation.

The healthcare sector plays a vital role in the development of any country, and Singapore is no exception. With the advent of 5G, healthcare providers will be able to take advantage of faster and more reliable connectivity to improve patient care. One of the key benefits of 5G in healthcare is the ability to transfer large amounts of data in real time. This means that healthcare professionals will have instant access to patient records, test results, and other important information, no matter where they are.

In early 2023, Singapore's mobile operator M1 partnered with healthcare provider Fullerton Health to introduce 5G-enabled telemedicine services for Singapore's maritime industry.

The telemedicine service will officially launch in July 2023 and will be available to all seafarers or employees of shipping companies in Singapore, both onshore and at anchor, as long as they are connected to M1’s 5G network. Live remote consultations with healthcare professionals onshore and 5G-enabled drones to provide medication guidance to crew from shore.

Thailand

Digital transformation in the healthcare sector is one of the key contents of Thailand's Strategy 4.0. The Thai Ministry of Public Health signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese telecommunications company Huawei in September 2021, with the main goal of using 5G technology to boost healthcare infrastructure in Thailand.

In late 2021, Thailand launched a new 5G smart hospital project at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, marking the first 5G hospital project in Thailand and in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). With this project, patients treated at Siriraj Hospital will have access to a full suite of digital services such as 5G ambulances, AI-powered diagnosis, and remote medical consultations.

This 5G hospital project has started piloting the use of mobile medical boxes, unmanned vehicles, medical trolleys and smart hospital beds based on 5G technology. About 30 5G medical applications have been developed and put into use across Thailand.

The Siriraj World-Class 5G Smart Hospital Project includes 9 sub-projects such as smart emergency room, emergency medical service, pathology diagnosis system with 5G and artificial intelligence, personal health record establishment, smart logistics service with 5G self-driving car, multi-access edge computing and cloud system...

In conclusion, the integration of 5G technology and healthcare services in the Asia-Pacific region is a significant step forward in the advancement of healthcare. This integration is leading to the use of telemedicine, enabling faster and more accurate diagnoses, addressing gaps in healthcare access and bringing the region closer to the goal of universal health coverage.

However, it is important that robust data security measures and effective governance frameworks accompany the deployment of 5G in healthcare. As countries in the Asia-Pacific region continue to adapt and innovate, the transformation brought about by 5G in healthcare promises a healthier and more connected future for the region.

Phan Van Hoa (According to Telecomreviewasia, Channelasia.tech)