5G technology and its potential for Indian Healthcare: The time is NOW

The new generation of wireless technology has propelled an innovation sphere and created a wave of opportunities in Healthcare industry, overcoming the associated complex regulatory frameworks. 5G or Fifth generation cellular wireless while promising 10 times accelerated data transferring rate will critically modify ones viewpoint of Healthcare as a traditionally slow adopter of technology. With an aim to be at par with global technological levels, India is at the right opportune moment to
board the 5G bus.

As technological advancement is critical to India’s digital ambition. 5G network in comparison to previous generations is not restricted to Mobile only but its implementations can firepower research via wide spectrum of devices. This shows a great potential in the fields of augmented reality, Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), Virtual Reality and Remote Monitoring.

The fifth generation of wireless technology offers some unique features with the significant potential to impact on healthcare in comparison to the current 4G or 4G LTE technology in the following aspects:

• High-speed data transfer rate of 10 Gbps that is, 10-fold to 100-fold improvement.
• Super-low latency <1 ms ensuring high speed data transmission.  Even over broadband.
• Higher bandwidth and increased capacity to connect with network of devices.

With these landmark improvements in wireless connectivity via 5G, healthcare industry now can seamlessly be decentralized to far reaches of rural areas. 5G can channelize the healthcare industry from “one-size-fits-all” model for any population or group to individual-centric approach which will be much more data driven. The potential benefits of latest advancement can overcome the current challenges to healthcare of overcrowding urban health infrastructure.

Targeted area of improvement through 5G
Each time a new technology emerges it revolutionizes the market in its own set of constrains. With the introduction of 5G, not only the faster internet speed but also the reliable internet connectivity for massive data objects and medical devices, with greater bandwidth and super coverage and availability than provided by 4G LTE. The areas of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are most likely to directly benefit from it. Promotion of the integration of VR and AR is critical for comprehensive rehabilitation training, as well as concise extremity rehabilitation and tele-medicine. 5G is not a single technology; rather it is a combination of cutting-edge technologies, including big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. With this improved ability of computers to process massive amounts of information, let’s explore the capability of 5G in overhauling healthcare.

Real time Remote Monitoring
With the rise in global pandemic situations, importance of remote monitoring is now at all time high. Improved data transmission rate, low latency and higher reliability of 5G technology has enhanced the capabilities of Physicians to capture vital health related data points using Internet of Medical Things (IoMt). 5G technology can support devices through consistent, uniform and uninterrupted connectivity. Medical grade consumer wearable working on remote sensing creates a wide spectrum of real time reliable data. In emergency situations availability of such data will assist the paramedical team to save the patient’s life.

Point of Care Diagnostics
Reaping the advantages of 5G in quickly transmitting massive files from X-ray machines, MRIs, and other patient related information. With immediate access to substantial data files, Point of Care Diagnostic will allow the patient to get medical attention in nearby centers or in their homes instead of the centralized hospitals. By this we will not only help to improve the quality of diagnostic and treatment but also be deepening roots of healthcare to the far stretches of rural areas.

Tele-medication
With ever increasing pace of life and some degree of social distancing becoming the norm, demand for online consultation is on its peak. But the surge in real time personal interaction with the doctors stands as a major challenge. High Definition video streaming with low latency rate on real time basis will prove to be an aid. Providing flexibility to the patient for getting consultation from home or even from work. Also minimizing the wait time and improving overall efficiency.

Robotics (Robot Assisted Tele-surgery)
Fifth generation of wireless network might be a game changer in the field of remote operation using robotic surgery and robotic therapy. With improvement in speed and low latency rate, 5G can prove to be more reliable for Tele-surgeries as they enable doctors to receive real time and highly reliable inputs from the machines while performing surgeries from remote locations. There have now been reports that the first real tele-surgery has been conducted in China, in which a brain stimulation device was implanted in a patient using robotic equipment operated by controllers at a remote location.

Efficient Data Management
In order to create a robust system, hospitals will become a data center where all the patients’ information is centrally stored. Patient and the Medical practitioner will have an access to this central repository to bring efficiency in medical care. 5G implications make it more accessible and a step closer to reality.

Leap into AI, AR
With the technological advancements, analyzing the complex medical images is improved. Machine learning systems have shown promising outcomes while detecting complex patterns and extract novel features otherwise undetected by human vision. By switching to the high capacity 5G network, ultra high data requirement can be easily fulfilled. Also furtherance of 5G supplements in enhancing the surgery skills and procedures by the physicians using augmented reality. While the world is embracing on new 5G technology and betting positive on its implications in Healthcare services with high data transmission speed, low latency rate and higher reliability. India needs to revamp its infrastructure to support the tech revolution.

Initiatives like Digital India, Smart Cities and BharatNet can be augmented by seamless implementation of 5G environment. Despite limitations and challenges like, higher cost of data security due to possible cyber attack, lack in network deployment as well as monitoring the system abnormalities, 5G era is coming. As per the reports published by Oxford University Press on behalf of West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University claims to initiate the deployment of 5G in their clinical practices and smart medical strategy.

By being cautiously optimistic, Healthcare industry is ready to explore the new verticals of Internet of Medical things (IoMT), Artificial Intelligence, Argumented and Virtual reality. The 5G digitization trend is lined up with the aim to curb the disparities in delivery of health services like those across India and making it affordable for the large mass. Of course an opportunity for India to not lag behind in the efficiency of innovation across the board, especially healthcare and medicine.

Sources:

1. https://academic.oup.com/pcm/article/2/4/205/5591013
2. https://www.ericsson.com/en/networks/trending/insights-and-reports/5g-healthcare
3. https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/in/Documents/technology-media-telecommunications/in-tmt-the-catalyst-report-two-noexp.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi6scbvyv7oAhVmIbcAHQ6yCxIQFjABegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw0SGMy0kwEhWt7ah_Y9a3fh