The next generation of mobile network technology promises to transform healthcare by enabling remote monitoring, improving access to care, encouraging proactive treatment, and reducing waiting times.
Wearable devices already help track medical conditions in hospitals and at home. Many current devices, however, require manual syncing when in range of a network or periodic checks by a clinician during in-person appointments — something that can be difficult for people with mobility issues or disabilities.
Today’s networks often fall short for medical applications due to high power consumption, limited coverage, constrained bandwidth, and latency issues. 5G is being developed with the Internet of Things (IoT) in mind and aims to address these limitations. If successful, 5G could play a central role in easing the strain on national health systems such as the NHS in the UK.
Waiting times are at record levels in many healthcare systems. For example, more than 10 percent of NHS patients now wait longer than 18 weeks for non-emergency care, and the proportion of patients waiting longer than the four-hour A&E target is rising. While policy measures and adequate funding are essential to fully resolve these problems, 5G-enabled services can help reduce waits by supporting remote consultations.
Remote appointments let patients consult clinicians from anywhere at times that suit both parties. Missed appointments due to travel problems or forgetfulness can be reduced through simple smartphone notifications that enable instant connection. Instead of spending hours in a waiting room, patients can continue their daily routines until the clinician is ready.
Wearables can continuously transmit vital signs and other health data to clinicians, helping identify early warning signs and prevent serious episodes. In acute events—such as a suspected heart attack—connected devices could trigger emergency dispatch, alert the receiving hospital to prepare, and notify family members. This rapid, coordinated response is particularly valuable for individuals who are alone, but it also enhances outcomes for those accompanied by others.
All of these scenarios depend on reliable, low-latency, high-bandwidth connections—capabilities 5G is designed to deliver. Adoption of new technologies takes time, and patients and clinicians must gain confidence in their safety and usefulness. Research reflects growing interest: an Ericsson ConsumerLab study found that 39 percent of people with chronic conditions prefer online consultations over face-to-face visits, and nearly two in three consumers view wearables that monitor and administer medication as important tools for managing chronic illness and reducing doctor visits.
5G, combined with advances in wearable sensors and telemedicine platforms, has the potential to significantly reduce pressure on overstretched services by enabling faster, more efficient care pathways. Realizing this promise will require collaboration with regulators and healthcare organisations to ensure that data flows are accessible to authorized providers while remaining secure and protecting patient privacy.
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