5G has to potential to transform Bangladesh’s abysmal healthcare system
As the world moves towards the fourth industrial revolution, we slowly witness revolutionary technologies becoming integral parts of our lives. Many of us can now autonomously control all the gadgets of our houses merely with the help of our smartphones. Augmented and virtual reality solutions are now being used for multiple business purposes, from creating immersive brand experiences to making interactive educational content for children. In alignment with such global developments, many countries across the globe are introducing fifth-generation (5G) internet for their population. In simplest terms, 5G internet is a high speed, high capacity and low latency internet service that possesses a bandwidth that is approximately ten times more than fourth-generation (4G) internet. With the help of 5G internet, a user can download a file at around 20 gigabits per second. It enables anyone to download entire movies, videos and even advanced Internet of Things (IoT) within just minutes!
With such high internet speed and connectivity, one can unquestionably imagine a broad spectrum of possibilities. A developing country like Bangladesh can primarily benefit from such a high internet speed and breathe new life into traditional, decade-old systems and processes. Currently, the Government of Bangladesh is undertaking an enormous project valued at BDT 200 crore. The strategic objective of the plan is to launch the fifth-generation internet on a limited scale in the country’s capital by the end of 2021. And over time, the network shall be spread across other divisional cities and district levels. As per a statement by a member (secretary) of the Planning Commission, Md, Mamun-A-Rashid, has informed The Daily Star that the nationwide expansion plan of the 5G network shall depend heavily on the number of users.
The first question that comes to mind is which industries will be disrupted by the innovations that the 5G network will fuel? Healthcare seems to be one of the top industries on the list, with a holistic market size that is approximately worth $3 billion As per the Center for Research and Information (CRI), there are around 600 government hospitals in Bangladesh at present, of which 482 primary service hospitals are Upazila based. There are about 75 secondary hospitals in the districts and 15 hospitals where specialised medical services are provided. In addition, more than 15,000 community clinics and satellite clinics have been officially established for primary and child and maternal healthcare.
On the other hand, one-third (36.6%) of the 170 million people in Bangladesh live in cities, meaning that most of the country’s population still lives in rural areas. These two statistics prove that Bangladesh still has a vast population who cannot avail high-quality healthcare services, especially by not coming to Dhaka. So, let’s take a look at the possible ways by which the 5G network can revolutionise the healthcare sector of Bangladesh.
Increase the scope of telemedicine in remote areas
While telemedicine services in Bangladesh have been growing steadily, the numbers have increased significantly during the pandemic. In the last 15 months, around 40 lakh people have availed medical advisory services from the Government’s ICT division-operated ‘Doctor’s Pool’. Apart from public telemedicine services, private companies have also started to explore and contribute to this sector. Companies such as Praava Health, Maya, Sebaghar, LifeSpring, Synesis Health, Pulse Healthcare are among many private organisations currently providing telemedicine services. Such services are expected to rise with the advent of 5G networks rapidly. With 5G, healthcare systems can enable mobile networks to handle telemedicine appointments, which can significantly increase the program’s reach.
Rapid transmission of sizeable medical imaging documents
Quite often, assessing patients’ health conditions requires the usage of MRIs, CT scans, and other such assessments. Usually, these tests are done in one centre and are sent to doctors residing in another location which requires substantial bandwidth. Transmission can take a long time if the network bandwidth is low. But with 5G, a high-speed network, such transmission delays will indeed become a thing of the past. With the help of such a high-speed network, these heavy medical files can be conveniently sent from one place to another – enabling the scenario where a patient completes a test in one city and at the same time, the doctor receives it in another city and then can virtually diagnose the patient.
The strategic objective of the plan is to launch the fifth-generation internet on a limited scale in the country’s capital by the end of 2021.
Introducing AR/VR in the medical space
Virtual Reality (VR) is a relatively new technology integrated into the global healthcare industry. VR is currently being used in many aspects to give both patients and doctors a better ‘healthcare experience’. Popularly known to industry insiders as Medical VR, this is one field that is filled with infinite possibilities. For example, with the power of Virtual Reality, doctors can now project live operations in real-time – thus training aspiring surgeons in the process. Companies like ImmersiveTouch and Osso VR are deploying such technologies to revolutionise the training processes of novice surgeons. Medical VR is also being used to expedite the recovery processes of patients. Patients who have survived a stroke or brain injury often need to go through a lengthy, arduous recovery process. But thanks to Medical VR introduced by companies such as Neuro Rehab VR, personalised and immersive rehabilitation therapies are created for such patients. With a personalised set of modules, these sessions are proven to have a higher efficiency rate compared to the traditional ones. These technologies can be implemented and used for Bangladeshi patients and doctors once the 5G network is implemented.
Increased reliability of medical services
In this age of data analytics, the healthcare sector heavily relies on capturing the correct patient data and utilising them accordingly for diagnostics purposes. To ensure that real-time surgeries and medical decision-making are conducted with utmost precision, the involvement of the 5G network is vital. While 4G is mostly used for delivering content across mobile devices, 5G, on the other hand, is more about transferring bigger files across a wide range of industrial devices. So as 5G technology facilitates the transition from the mid-band of the wireless spectrum to the higher-end millimetre-wave technology, the reliability of patient data in the healthcare sector is also bound to increase.
With the massive technological interventions that 5G high-speed internet facilitates, industries can utilise and implement new solutions to the deep-rooted problems plaguing the country.
Remote monitoring in real-time
In developed parts of the world, doctors use IoT devices to monitor patients and gather health data to track their patients’ requirements better. These wearable devices enable precise monitoring of patients’ health status – while the entire process is completely remote. While such technology allows hospitals to cut down their operational expenses, they also require a steady, high-speed internet connection to collect patient data accurately and adequately. Thus, using the 5G network can also allow doctors in Bangladesh to introduce remote monitoring in hospitals and accumulate bigger patient datasets that can lead to better future results.
The leap forward
While there can be many benefits for the advent of such a revolutionary technology, industry veterans have mixed reviews on 5G being introduced in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has announced plans to make 5G available in all districts in 2023. On the other hand, the global mobile communication industry GSM Association (GSMA) has stated that a mere 6% of Bangladesh’s total mobile network users shall enjoy 5G internet services by 2025. According to GSMA, Bangladesh is yet to properly witness the availability of 4G across all parts of the country. Their latest report also stated that 4G should be the current focus for countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Indonesia, while 5G implementation should be a long-term project. As per the report, less than half the mobile users shall come under 4G network coverage in 2025. Therefore, 5G would still be a long shot. A telecommunication veteran recently shared his candid thoughts about 5G availability in Bangladesh. He said that the current focus should ensure people’s complete access to smartphones and digital services in the next 2 to 3 years. He thinks that 5G has a high risk of running into a financial debacle as the investment will be very high, and very few people will be able to avail these services.
While the rationale focusing on the expenses incurred for implementing such a new-generation technology is entirely valid, many are on the other end of the spectrum. They firmly believe that introducing such a revolutionary technology aligns with the country’s growth trajectory and will act as a catalyst to expedite the creation of a true Digital Bangladesh. With the massive technological interventions that 5G high-speed internet facilitates, industries can utilise and implement new solutions to the deep-rooted problems plaguing the country. Efficiency and complete system automations can then be easily achieved. For example, the complex operations of the Chattogram harbour can become much more efficient by completely digitising it with the help of 5G technology. And out of all these, the best outcome of such a remarkable transformation will indeed be a redefined healthcare system, one that will connect patients from all across the country in a thread of care, comfort and cure.
