The Asia-Pacific region has always been at the forefront of technological advancement and innovation. However, it was the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic that forced healthcare systems across the region to reevaluate 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 as Catalyst
The healthcare sector in the Asia-Pacific region found itself thrust into uncharted territory with the arrival of COVID-19. The need for faster, more efficient and highly accessible healthcare services became paramount.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed significant flaws in the healthcare systems of both advanced and developing nations in the Asia-Pacific region. Over the past two years, it has become clear that any highly contagious disease can quickly overwhelm medical facilities, leading to the collapse of healthcare infrastructure and 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 sparked a shift towards the adoption of digital technologies, artificial intelligence and big data in the healthcare industry across the Asia-Pacific region.
These digital innovations have allowed policymakers and innovators to envision a hybrid healthcare industry where traditional hospitals and healthcare systems merge with digital and online systems.
Healthcare Transformation
5G technology has become an essential component of the healthcare revolution in Asia Pacific. Several countries have taken innovative steps to enhance healthcare accessibility and services.
For instance, China is implementing the Healthy China 2030 strategy, which aims to reform the Medical Security System. This strategy aims to bring together various stakeholders from the medical, pharmaceutical and health insurance sectors. Its main objective is to address the imbalance between the demand and supply of medical and health services, ultimately providing affordable healthcare to the population.
The strategy recognizes the importance of genetic, diagnostic, behavioral and health service consumption data. Key consumer needs in digital healthcare services include online medicine purchases, insurance direct billing and online prescription medicine consultations.
Moreover, India is leading the way in the digital healthcare transformation with its National Digital Health Mission. This initiative introduces a unique digital health ID and enables the secure exchange of longitudinal health records with the consent of citizens. The mission includes the establishment of the Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR) and Healthcare Facilities Registry (HFR), along with the PM-DHM Sandbox.
The mission's emphasis on interoperability within the digital health ecosystem is comparable to the transformative role the Unified Payments Interface played in the financial sector, with significant investments totaling Rs. 1,182,000 so far.
Meanwhile, Indonesia has allocated a significant amount of 3.5 billion US dollars from its 2021 budget to strengthen universal healthcare coverage. This funding will be used for initiatives such as e-pharmacy, online consultations, appointment booking and the implementation of healthcare IT solutions.
Further, Japan is actively promoting the digitization of its healthcare sector, with specific funds dedicated to digitizing data in the long-term care and disability fields. These investments, totaling 3.6 billion yen for long-term care and 6.1 billion yen for digital prescriptions, are crucial for advancing the digitization of welfare services.
Japan is adopting various digital solutions, including telemedicine, telepharmacy, medical apps, devices, medical data, AI hospitals, insurance reimbursement and Personal Health Records (PHR).
The Republic of Korea has also taken comprehensive steps in digital healthcare, including initiatives such as contact tracing, vaccine passes, telemedicine and mass SMS communication. The government is also updating privacy laws and providing funding support to encourage the participation of start-ups and tech companies in technology development and rollout.
The introduction of a 5G-powered hospital, Yonsei, and the establishment of an electronic health record system have been essential components of Korea's digital health strategy. In 2021, the national research and development budget for digital health was a significant 850 million US dollars.
The Philippines has embraced digital healthcare with a focus on telemedicine, electronic medical records, the deployment of the Kira Kontra COVID chatbot and the development of a unified enterprise architecture for remote care. These initiatives demonstrate a proactive approach to utilizing digital technology for healthcare improvements in the Philippines.
The Promise of a Healthier Future
The combination of 5G technology and healthcare services in the Asia-Pacific region is a significant development in the advancement of medical care. This integration is leading to the use of telemedicine, which allows for quicker and more precise diagnoses, addresses gaps in healthcare access and brings the region closer to achieving universal health coverage.
However, it is essential to ensure that strong data security measures and effective governance frameworks accompany the implementation of 5G in healthcare. As countries in the Asia-Pacific region continue to adapt and innovate, the transformation brought about by 5G in healthcare holds the promise of a healthier and more interconnected future for the region.
