The 5G standard will be a new milestone in the development of modern video communications, especially in areas where ultra-high video expansion is required, such as medicine. Over the past few years, the field of e-Health has experienced substantial growth and advancement. The adoption of technology in the health sector has become a common practice across all Member States in the European Region. These investments are aimed at achieving health system reform, introducing innovative healthcare methods, and providing efficient means of accessing and exchanging health information. This article discusses the new 5G network and the scope of this technology. The application of the new network in the medical field is analyzed. It is established that fast and reliable communication will soon allow not only to conduct video consultations but also to remotely manage complex operations. The report's main findings suggest that there is a growing interest in e-Health and that actual advancements are being made in the integration of technology solutions for enhanced public health and healthcare service delivery. Furthermore, the report also examines the potential impact of 5G networks on human health.
5G, technology, network, medicine, health, e-Health
E-Health describes the use of information and telecommunication technologies to perform a wide
range of functions that affect the public health sector. E-Health includes Internet-based products,
systems, and services [
Despite the fact that electronic medical services are available in Europe, they are not yet popular in real medical practice. One reason is a lack of understanding of their benefits. The experience of developed countries shows that the most common obstacles to the successful implementation of eHealth programs are insufficient information about the role of e-Health in health care and the lack of operational and support policies. Therefore, it is important to actively promote existing good solutions and the benefits associated with them, while developing quantitative methods for assessing the benefits of e-health. e-Health technology is an integral part of the EU strategy implemented within the
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framework of the i2010 initiative [
The e-Health initiative is developing in at least three main directions:
research and technological development. There are plans to introduce Plan C to support
eHealth for 17 years. Within their framework, over 500 million euros were allocated to finance
research projects;
politics. EU Member States are committed to sharing best practices and best practices to create
a pan-European e-Health space and thereby dramatically improve the quality and accessibility of
healthcare services while stimulating growth in this promising new sector. The European plan for
electronic health protection [
There are a lot of other research projects devoted to the investigation of different technological solutions, that can be used for the e-Health applications. One of the widespread and rapidly growing solutions is 5G networks. Therefore, the main purpose of this article is to analyze the possible use of 5G in the EU e-Health ecosystem.
The global telecommunications industry is on the brink of unveiling the fifth generation of mobile communications. As with previous iterations, 5G is poised to revolutionize not just telecommunications, but also various other sectors of the economy. This cutting-edge technology boasts numerous impressive advantages over its predecessors.
5G technology, which is set to replace the 4G standard in the next few years, significantly expands the functionality of fourth-generation mobile networks: it is 100 times faster and a thousand times more powerful. This will create mobile networks that provide much higher performance and reliability and a much lower delay in signal transmission (or delay time), which minimizes power consumption and allows you to connect devices en masse.
The introduction of 5th-generation networks in the long run can transform our perception of the
world and lead to the transformation of society [
The latest 5G mobile technology boasts impressive characteristics, as outlined in Figure 1. These include: 1. A peak speed of 20 Gbps when transmitting from the base station to the mobile device, with up to 10 Gbps in the opposite direction. 2. Practical speeds of 100 Mbps per subscriber or more. 3. Spectral efficiency in 5G networks that is 2-5 times better than previous generations. Specifically, 30 bits/s/Hz on the line down and 15 bits/s/Hz on the line-up. 4. Improved energy efficiency by 2 orders of magnitude, which enables IoT devices to operate for 10 years without requiring a recharge. 5. Shorter radio interface delays, with a duration of just 0.5 ms for super-reliable interconnection URLLC services and up to 4 ms for ultra-wideband mobile services eMBB. 6. Subscriber speeds of 500 km/h.
7. The ability to connect up to 1 million devices per square kilometer.
The fifth-generation connection provides benefits for many areas of activity, including the manufacturing sector, transport, and other industries. The 5G network offers solutions to critical issues such as remote management of infrastructure and the city's economy, medical procedures, and transport. In addition, the new generation of telecommunications will open up new opportunities in industry, agriculture, manufacturing, medicine, education, entertainment, and more - all of which will be based on 5G.
This theory is confirmed by practice in other countries, where 5G is actively implemented. The technology allows you to create a large number of connections - up to a million per square kilometer. The network provides high reliability and low signal delay. As a result, 5G provides the ability to provide smart solutions for factories, homes, and city streets.
Studies have provided evidence of the advantages of using e-Health [
It is becoming increasingly recognized in both developed and developing countries that e-Health is a crucial tool for reducing discrimination based on lack of access to information and addressing matters that affect personal and community health. However, implementing e-Health within or between institutions requires proper planning, supported by clearly defined policies, rules, and recommendations at the institutional, jurisdictional, and global levels. Without such policies, problems can arise during the e-Health planning cycle, leading to failure to achieve desired goals. This can result in an accidental widening of the gap in health and knowledge levels between different segments of the population, creating a digital divide and increasing health inequities. In developed countries, insufficient information about the role of e-medicine in healthcare, a lack of operational and support policies, unproven cost-effectiveness, and a lack of clinical supporters are the most common obstacles to the successful implementation of e-medicine plans.
Typically types of electronic medicine, in the literature, a lot of applications are induced, such as, to
be built, even to go for training, the inclusion of additional assistance in the planning and practice for
patients with multiple disabilities [
The use of 5G technologies can contribute to the development of health care. New-generation technologies can offer a lot to modern medicine: from higher communication speeds to smart computing and augmented reality. The fifth-generation network can revolutionize the medical industry [23]. Thanks to advanced communication technology, patients in remote areas who require urgent surgical care no longer need to travel to clinics or hospitals in larger cities. They can now receive assistance in local hospitals or clinics, and if necessary, an urgent video call with a specialist can save the patient's life. These new technologies have also proved useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with chronic illnesses.
The pandemic is a new solution that combines 5G with COVID-19, 5G functions for remote diagnosis and care of coronavirus patients, and non-contact temperature measurement using robots.
As shown in the example (Fig. 2), the quality of the entire healthcare system can be improved by implementing digital technologies in all healthcare processes.
The basis of digital medicine is the Medical Information System (MIS), which can quickly and easily
access all medical data about patients, a large amount of relevant medical information, and computer
equipment that allows you to remotely diagnose, consult and care for patients. Such systems can help
remotely perform important parts of clinical work, process online diagnostic data, conduct electronic
medical monitoring of patients, use aggregate data to prevent and prevent disease and respond quickly
and effectively to emergencies. The use of specialized devices that collect and transmit biological and
medical indicators from sensors on patients, along with intelligent machine analysis of this data, has
made clinical and outpatient care more accessible and effective in diagnosing and evaluating
treatments [
Remote medicine is not just an interesting innovation, in many cases, it can be the only salvation. For example, with the development of fifth-generation networks, sailors, being in the middle of the ocean, will also be able to receive qualified medical care directly on board [24].
Today, the speed of service delivery often becomes crucial in choosing a clinic. We do not like to wait for the afternoon under the doctor's office and are ready to start treatment as soon as the results of the examination are ready. 5G can help here too. For example, MRI scans are very large files that often load very slowly. With the fifth generation, the request and receipt of MRI data can occur almost instantly. As soon as the patient leaves the device, the result of the study will be sent to the doctor and the patient [25]. 4.1.
Eventually, online counseling with a stable connection can increase the percentage of people who seek medical attention. The transition to 5G technology will allow the instant transmission of huge amounts of information. High-definition video and augmented reality, remote ultrasound scanning, and sound technologies improve the quality of transmitted patient information. It now helps to quickly and accurately assess the patient's condition and the effectiveness of prescribed treatments and can be diagnosed remotely in the future.
Because the new network will provide high-speed transmission, doctors can easily and quickly send images obtained during the biopsy at an average speed of 1 GB per second. This allows colleagues in different buildings of the hospital complex to quickly review the results of tests and diagnose in the shortest possible time. Previously, the process took longer because doctors had to move between buildings to get the results of the examination [26]. 4.2.
Low latency and high data rates in 5G networks [26] allow patients to perform full-fledged operations in other hospitals. With the deployment of 5G networks, doctors will even be able to perform operations at a distance, connecting to special robotic surgeons. For example, a brain tumor specialist from New York will be able to perform a complex operation in Beijing from his own office. Instant communication is critical here.
In March 2019, China demonstrated to the world scientific community its first remote operation with the support of a 5G network involving robots [27]. The three-hour surgery was performed at Beijing General Hospital. The patient suffered from Parkinson's disease and was operated on by Lynn Gippi, a well-known and experienced neurosurgeon. Lin Zhipi is located in Sanya, 3,000 kilometers from the capital. (Fig. 3) [28].
Korean telecommunications giant KT and Samsung Medical Center announced in January 2020 the launch of official testing of 5G-based IT solutions in healthcare. The companies have introduced to the public several applications and devices that use the new generation network to work in operating rooms in real-time, as well as to quickly send images with analysis results [26].
The human body is a unique sociobiological system. Even for a specially trained talented doctor with experience: complex diagnosis, treatment, and surgery are always non-trivial tasks. Augmented reality systems now provide significant assistance in their work.
By analyzing remote patient data and UHD images, a digital model can be created for physicians to
work with online through connected AR/VR headsets. This innovative model streamlines the process
of diagnosis, predicts potential health issues, investigates their underlying causes, recommends
preventative and treatment measures, and facilitates remote implementation. The incorporation of AR
technology in surgical procedures is particularly advantageous, as it enhances the visualization of
affected tissues, offers operational guidance, and enables real-time evaluation of actions. This not only
minimizes the likelihood of medical mistakes but also expedites the surgeon's work, particularly during
high-pressure interventions where quick decision-making and distinguishing between various tissues
and body parts can be challenging [
Medivis (USA), founded by surgeons, radiologists, and engineers, is developing an AR platform for
the preparation and conduct of surgical operations based on traditional diagnostic systems and artificial
intelligence. To receive the 5G service, Verizon is moving the platform to its cloud infrastructure. Based
on the same principles, SentiAR (USA) creates a platform for projecting high-quality 3D images of
internal organs on AR glasses during operations: they are projected on monitors above the operating
table in real-time, providing detailed visualization during the operation. The project is being developed
jointly with Microsoft. The software AR-solution of the medical firm Proprio (USA) also serves the
best preparation of operations: work with AR in it is broadcast at once to several qualified doctors for
online consultations at their carrying out [
We live in a continuous field of radio waves. This causes people the opposite concern: how harmful it is to health and how dangerous each new generation of radio communication is.
There is growing concern among certain individuals that the fifth generation of wireless networks, known as 5G, poses a risk to public health. This is due to a belief that the level of electromagnetic fields (EMF) is higher than that of current networks. However, it should be noted that some of these concerns may be based on misinformation.
Determining the impact of radio radiation on human health and reducing its effects is in the interests of many international organizations [29]. Other competent international and national scientific organizations, equipment manufacturers, national regulators, and telecom operators are also involved in the research.
Along with the results, you should be informed about the implementation of the EPC standards. To change the organization of the organization to implement the EMP standards: "Based on all the options chosen, there is no short or predetermined inheritance of a negative gene for the health of the RF signal bases." [30].
After conducting numerous studies [31], no harmful effects on health have been linked to wireless technology. Though studies have been conducted across the radio spectrum, only a few have explored the effects of frequencies used in 5G. As the frequency increases, the energy absorption becomes more limited to the body surface, such as the skin and eyes, with less penetration into body tissues. As long as the overall exposure remains below international recommendations, there are no expected effects on public health. The World Health Organization [32, 33] continues to review the scientific evidence for potential health risks from 5G as new technology is introduced and more public health data becomes available.
The upcoming 5G networks are designed with smaller antennas, which will emit lower levels of radiation compared to previous networks. This will result in improved quality of service and higher connection speeds, with many of these antennas resembling Wi-Fi access points. The updated ICNIRP manual has taken into account all the new features of 5G technology. The Commission (EU) [31] has adopted the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1070 to define the characteristics of small-area wireless access points in accordance with Article 57 (2) of Directive (EU) № 2018/1972 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the implementation of the European Electronic Communications Code. It is important to note that this regulation does not impose any new EU restrictions on electromagnetic fields, and existing national or regional regulations [34, 35] must be followed for wireless access points. Scientific data confirms that 5G networks do not cause an increase in electromagnetic fields that surpass the EU's allowed limit [36]. Therefore, following all existing recommendations, the deployment of 5G networks will not negatively impact human health.
Wireless networks constantly strive to improve their capabilities and keep up with the latest technological advancements. Prior to the emergence of the fifth-generation network, various generations of wireless cellular networks had already been developed. The 5G mobile standard is a necessary investment towards advancing technology and expanding internet access through radio access. The margin of 5G provides new opportunities for the development of digital technologies, and, obviously, it will become the basis for the development of medical galusa. It's important to note that the upcoming fifth-generation technology will play a crucial role in advancing various digital information and communication services, as well as addressing issues regarding infrastructure and budget for 5G. With the advent of 5G, mobile communication is no longer a technological advantage, but a basic need, a key resource of most industries. With the widespread digitalization, and the introduction of ICT in the main business systems, the latest generation of cellular networks affects all production processes, industries, and the economy as a whole, changing them rapidly and dramatically. 5G technologies and services are becoming the foundation of digital transformation, infrastructural and technological basis of new business models, and industry development scenarios.
This work was supported in part by the European Commission under the 5G-PPP project 5GTOURS: SmarT mObility, media and e-Health for toURists and citizenS (H2020-ICT-2018-2020 call, grant number 856950). The views expressed in this contribution are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the project. 8. References [16] K. A. Stroetmann, J. Artmann, V. Stroetmann, European countries on their journey towards national eHealth infrastructures, Final European progress report European Commission, DG Information Society & Media, 2011. URL: http://www.ehealthnews.eu/images/stories/pdf/ehstrategies_final_report.pdf. [17] World Health Organization Second global eHealth survey, questionnaire, 2009. URL: http://www.nihfw.org/pdf/Second_Global_eHealth_Survey_2009.pdf. [18] The Chronic Care Model. Website, 2017. URL: www.improvingchroniccare.org/index.php?p=The_Chronic_Care_Model&s=2. [19] S. Turgay, Blockchain Management and Federated Learning Adaptation on Healthcare Management System, International Journal of Intelligent Systems and Applications 14(5) (2022) 1–13. doi:10.5815/ijisa.2022.05.01. [20] P. M. Gee, D. A. Greenwood, D. A. Paterniti, D. Ward, L. M. Miller, The eHealth enhanced Chronic Care Model: a theory derivation approach, Journal of Medical Internet Research 17(4) (2015). doi: 10.2196/jmir.4067. [21] P. Modey, D. Asamoah, S. Oppong, E. Baah, Error Detection and Correction in Wireless Sensor Networks Using Enhanced Reverse Conversion Algorithm in Healthcare Delivery System. International, Journal of Wireless and Microwave Technologies 12(5) (2022) 43–52. doi:10.5815/ijwmt.2022.05.05. [22] F. Barbabella, M. G. Melchiorre, S. Quattrini, R. Papa, G. Lamura, How can eHealth improve care for people with multimorbidity in Europe?, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, Copenhagen, 2017. URL: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/337588/PB_25.pdf?ua=1. [23] K. Pandey, R. Arya, Robust Distributed Power Control with Resource Allocation in D2D Communication Network for 5G-IoT Communication System, International Journal of Computer Network and Information Security 14(5) (2022) 73–81. doi:10.5815/ijcnis.2022.05.06. [24] J. Barlow, D. Singh, S. Bayer, R. Curry: A systematic review of the benefits of home telecare for frail elderly people and those with long-term conditions, Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare13(4) (2007) 172–179. [25] Welcome to 5G: why switch to new technology. URL: https://mind.ua/openmind/20203748laskavo-prosimo-u-5g-navishcho-perehoditi-na-novu-tehnologiyu. [26] Introduction of 5G in medicine. Who's ahead?. URL: https://www.if24.ru/vnedrenie-5g-vmeditsine-kto-vperedi/. [27] How virtual reality for surgery works. URL: https://www.scnsoft.com/virtualreality/healthcare/vr-surgery. [28] 5G and the coronavirus: should you be afraid?. URL: https://tech.liga.net/technology/opinion/5gi-koronavirus-stoit-li-boyatsya. [29] 5G mobile networks and health. URL: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/5g-mobilenetworks-and-health. [30] European Union (EU) Information – Electromagnetic Fields and 5G. URL: https://nkrzi.gov.ua/images/upload/627/9267/INFO_ES_.pdf. [31] Commission implementing Regulation. URL: https://eurlex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?qid=1596796915896&uri=CELEX:32020R1070. [32] World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, E-Health in the
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