More Than One Billion Patients To Benefit From 5G Connected Healthcare By 2030

5G expected to deliver global savings of $94 billion to the healthcare industry by 2030, according to new report

More than one billion patients worldwide are expected to benefit from improved healthcare services by the end of the next decade (2030), as 5G mobile connected technologies transform hospitals and doctors surgeries, according to a new report by Huawei and independent research and consulting firm STL Partners.

5G connected remote patient monitoring, wearable health devices, virtual HD doctor-patient consultations and connected ambulances are all expected to be common-place and improve healthcare around the world by 2030, according to the report.

The findings also predict that 5G will:

• help healthcare professionals treat more than 850 million extra outpatients a year by 2030;
• free-up more than four million extra bed days in hospitals around the world; and
• help ambulance services handle 40 million more emergency responses a year by 2030.

In a world where it is becoming increasingly unsustainable for governments to provide healthcare services to an ever ageing and increasing populations, the report predicts that 5G can bring $94bn in global savings for the healthcare industry in 2030. 

By reallocating this resource, healthcare experts will be able to treat more patients and increase the reach and access of medical expertise to more remote and less developed corners of the globe. This will lead to almost a billion extra patients being treated globally each year by 2030.                                              

Victor Zhang, Senior Vice President, Huawei, said: “Hospitals and doctor’s surgeries around the world are coming under increased pressure due to ever ageing and increasing populations.

“However, over the next decade, 5G connected wearable devices, remote patient monitoring and HD patient-doctor consultations, and even surgery, will transform the healthcare industry; potentially freeing up $94bn which can be reallocated elsewhere.

“With 5G connectivity offering such huge life-saving opportunities, the telecoms industry and government regulators must work together to take this opportunity and press ahead with their rollout of 5G networks.”

The report, entitled: “5G’S healthcare impact: one billion patients with improved access in 2030”, outlines a number of ways 5G will be used in healthcare over the next decade, as well as how some applications that are already being trialed.

     These developments include:

• Remote patient monitoring: real-time streaming, analysis, and monitoring of patient data from patient wearables and e-health devices. For example, Diabetacare7 – is a solution which provides 24/7 monitoring and support for those suffering from diabetes. 
• Virtual consultations via high-definition (HD) video: HD, two-way video streaming between a doctor and patient for a routine appointment can reduce waiting times and potentially speed up diagnosis.
• Connected ambulances: real-time streaming of patient data and information from sensors and high-definition cameras, can speed-up and improve communication between ambulance crews and in-hospital emergency departments. For example, BT in the UK is running 5G tests for connected ambulances in Birmingham. Currently the connected ambulance connects paramedics to doctors in the hospital and allows the doctor to seamlessly guide the on-site paramedic through a remote ultrasound diagnosis.

For the full report, please contact STL Partners on +0207 247 5003 or email: contact@stlpartners.com