5G Will Drive the Development of Health Care
The integration of fifth-generation (5G) wireless technology into healthcare systems represents a transformative leap in medical service delivery, patient care, and global health equity. Characterized by ultrahigh data rates, low latency, high mobility, and energy efficiency, 5G networks outperform their 4G predecessors by up to 100 times in comprehensive performance. These technical advancements are reshaping healthcare infrastructure, enabling real-time telemedicine, remote surgery, and intelligent hospital management. However, the rapid deployment of 5G also raises concerns about radiofrequency radiation exposure and environmental impacts, necessitating balanced discourse on its risks and benefits.
Technical Advancements of 5G in Healthcare
The cornerstone of 5G’s healthcare applications lies in its unparalleled technical capabilities. With data transmission speeds exceeding 10 Gbps and latency reduced to 1 millisecond, 5G supports high-definition video streaming, instantaneous data sharing, and seamless connectivity across devices. For instance, during a September 2019 telesurgery in Barcelona, Spain, surgeons leveraged China Mobile’s 5G network to perform gastrointestinal procedures remotely while providing real-time guidance to local teams. This milestone demonstrated 5G’s ability to overcome geographical barriers, ensuring precision and safety in complex interventions.
In China, the issuance of 5G commercial licenses on June 6, 2019, accelerated the integration of this technology into national healthcare systems. Hospitals began adopting 5G-enabled platforms for teleconsultations, cloud-based data storage, and robotic surgeries. For example, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital achieved a world-first in June 2019 by simultaneously operating two orthopedic surgical robots located 733 km and 1,231 km away. Surgeons controlled the robots via 5G networks to perform spinal procedures, showcasing the synergy between 5G’s low latency and robotic precision.
Policy Support and National Initiatives
The Chinese government has prioritized 5G adoption as part of its broader strategy to democratize access to high-quality healthcare. Premier Li Keqiang emphasized the need to “speed up telemedicine and use ‘Internet healthcare’” to bridge urban-rural disparities in medical resources. This vision aligns with nationwide efforts to establish 5G-powered “smart hospitals” that integrate artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Key projects include the 5G Intelligent Medical Application Demonstration Base at Shanghai’s Huashan Hospital, launched in April 2019. The facility conducted a live broadcast of a surgical procedure to an audience 20 km away, combining 4K video transmission with real-time expert commentary. Similarly, West China Hospital in Sichuan Province utilized 5G in May 2019 to connect with two regional hospitals 176 km apart, enabling cross-institutional consultations for complex cases. These initiatives reflect China’s commitment to building a large-scale 5G medical laboratory network, enhancing resource allocation, and standardizing care protocols.
Clinical Applications and Case Studies
The deployment of 5G has unlocked innovative clinical applications, particularly in emergency medicine, chronic disease management, and surgical innovation. At Lanzhou University’s First Hospital, a 5G-enabled “smart hospital” prototype explores hierarchical diagnosis systems, where primary care centers upload patient data to centralized hubs for specialist review. This model reduces overcrowding in urban hospitals and improves early intervention rates in rural areas.
Another breakthrough occurred in June 2019, when surgeons at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital performed dual remote-controlled spinal surgeries using Tiangui orthopedic robots. The 5G network ensured synchronized communication between the operating team and robotic systems, achieving sub-millimeter accuracy in implant placement. Such advancements highlight 5G’s potential to support AI-driven diagnostics, wearable health monitors, and automated drug delivery systems, all operating within a unified, low-latency ecosystem.
Addressing Challenges and Risks
Despite its promise, 5G’s expansion introduces technical and ethical challenges. The technology requires a dense network of antennas to maintain signal integrity, increasing public exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). While current safety guidelines deem RF-EMF levels non-hazardous, long-term health effects remain unclear. Studies suggest possible links between prolonged RF-EMF exposure and cellular stress, though conclusive evidence is lacking.
Environmental concerns also loom large. Researchers warn that 5G’s reliance on high-frequency bands could interfere with satellite-based weather monitoring systems, particularly those measuring atmospheric water vapor. Such interference might compromise the accuracy of storm predictions and climate models, posing risks to disaster preparedness. These issues underscore the need for international collaboration in establishing 5G safety standards and mitigating unintended consequences.
Future Directions and Global Implications
The evolution of 5G in healthcare hinges on continuous innovation and cross-sector partnerships. Future applications may include “virtual wards,” where patients receive hospital-grade monitoring at home via 5G-connected devices. Real-time data from wearable sensors could alert clinicians to physiological changes, enabling proactive interventions. Additionally, 5G’s integration with augmented reality (AR) may revolutionize medical training, allowing students to observe surgeries in real time from anywhere in the world.
Globally, the race to dominate 5G infrastructure has geopolitical ramifications. Restrictions on companies like Huawei, driven by national security concerns, risk fragmenting technological ecosystems and delaying healthcare advancements. Yet, the push for localized 5G networks also fosters competition, potentially lowering costs and spurring region-specific innovations. For low-resource countries, affordable 5G solutions could leapfrog traditional infrastructure gaps, expanding access to telemedicine and mobile health services.
Conclusion
5G technology is redefining the boundaries of modern healthcare, offering solutions to longstanding challenges in resource distribution, surgical precision, and patient outcomes. China’s aggressive rollout of 5G medical networks provides a blueprint for leveraging connectivity to achieve health equity. However, realizing this potential requires addressing technical limitations, environmental trade-offs, and policy barriers through transparent research and international dialogue. As 5G continues to evolve, its role in creating resilient, patient-centered healthcare systems will undoubtedly expand, shaping the future of medicine for decades to come.
doi.org/10.1097/CM9.0000000000000534
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