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TECHNICAL HIGHLIGHTS

IS HEALTHCARE THE

NEXT BIG THING FOR 5G?

By Brian Dolby, CEO, Proactive International PR

The arrival of 5G has been heralded as The potential use cases of 5G within and analyse their blood sugar details,
a game-changer for sectors across the healthcare range from remote diagnosis the report outlines. But 5G could
board. From smart cities to industrial IoT to imaging as well as supporting the fundamentally change the way these
and the transport sector, its potential uses application of virtual reality and the instruments are used to measure blood
are myriad and have created widespread potential application of remote haptic, sugar levels, continually transmitting the
excitement. tactile, audio and visual technologies. data to a device or server and allowing the
patient to receive feedback and advice
“The effect of 5G on the sector, its suppliers and those specifically relevant to them. In this way,
e-health will not only improve patient
who use it are predicted to be huge, significantly analysis and monitoring but could also
changing the way healthcare is delivered and having help reduce healthcare costs.
Additionally, 5G’s attributes of enhanced
an impact on millions of patients.” mobile broadband data, ultra-low latency
and reliability are key in allowing the
delivery of emergency services that
The focus may lean towards the role of 5G The creation of the ‘Internet of Medical need to operate in real-time. By allowing
within telecoms, but connected benefits Things’ would allow remote diagnosis and faster and greater flows of data, medical
have created a number of new frontiers monitoring of patients through medical applications will be able to process
in other areas and the development devices, wearables and remote sensors, content and allow responsive, real-time
of standards assist with application, as well as the capability to send large actions that are vital for emergency
development and innovation across imaging files to assist with diagnosis and elements of telehealth and telemedicine,
many others. monitoring.
One such area is healthcare. The effect
of 5G on the sector, its suppliers and “Additionally, 5G’s attributes of enhanced mobile
those who use it are predicted to be huge, broadband data, ultra-low latency and reliability are
significantly changing the way healthcare
is delivered and having an impact on key in allowing the delivery of emergency services that
millions of patients. From phrases like
‘personalised healthcare’ to e-health or need to operate in real-time.”
telehealth, 5G brings the prospect of a
whole new landscape in the provision of
healthcare. Its attributes when it comes One example given by the Austin Cancer with the advent of ‘computing at the edge’
to low latency, high reliability and the Center to AT&T1 describes having to - something 3GPP is working to support
capability to support multiple devices wait to send large PET scan files until - also allowing real-time responses in
and sensors are what will ensure 5G after hours because of their size, whereas emergency situations. This includes the
has a significant impact - both when it 5G would allow such files to be sent potential for doctors operating on a
comes to delivering vital emergency instantly, allowing doctors access to the patient remotely via a robotic counterpart
services needed in real time as well as the results they need almost immediately. using specialised haptic feedback gloves
personalisation of healthcare. Additionally, Another example given in David J Teece’s and virtual reality, as trialled at the
the possibilities related to network slicing report 5G Mobile: Impact on the Health Ericsson 5G Tactile Internet Lab in King’s
could also prove beneficial when it comes Care Sector2, which uses research College London3. Again, the ultra-low
to hospitals or health organisations. provided by Qualcomm Technologies, latency and multi gigabit bandwidth of 5G
is the glucometer. In the pre-5G world, is at the heart of the development of this
glucometers aren’t necessarily used in a new frontier.
way that allows diabetics to understand

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