KUALA LUMPUR — The rapid expansion of the 5G network across the country is set to enhance the healthcare sector and benefit people in rural areas.
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Chief Industry Development Officer, Muhammad Razali Anuar, said that 5G, with its high-speed broadband provision, enables people to build new business models, besides providing crucial security aspects in various industries, including healthcare.
“Imagine if you need to undergo remote surgery; 5G will allow you to do that, along with various other technologies. The 5G network itself will allow healthcare providers to rely on enhanced security features.
“When a doctor performs surgery, say in Kuala Lumpur, the same task can also be done in Lawas, Sarawak.
“There will be no delay in terms of the doctor’s movements, their hands, during the surgery. So that’s how, essentially, 5G technology can benefit other industries, especially the healthcare sector,” he told Scoop after the opening of the Malaysia International Healthcare (MIH) Megatrends 2024 conference here today.
MIH Megatrends 2024, officiated by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, Datuk Seri Suriani Ahmad, is a three-day event starting today until Sunday.
The conference brings together global healthcare leaders, innovators, and policymakers to explore solutions and cutting-edge technologies that will shape the future of healthcare.
The event at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre will also feature in-depth discussions on important healthcare topics, such as the transformative potential of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Razali said that MCMC plans to improve the healthcare system through technological infrastructure because healthcare is a mature sector.
“There is a need to provide meaningful healthcare services to the people.So with better connectivity, especially with 5G and fibre access to most urban and rural areas, we see a lot of opportunities, especially for private clinics and pharmacies, to be able to utilise better connectivity in delivering their services to the people.
“Let’s say if I go to a clinic in Lawas again, I will be able to access the same services if I go to Pekan. That’s how we enable private clinics to embrace technology and deliver their services better, not just limited to certain areas,” he said.
He added that extending connectivity to rural areas makes it more meaningful for the people.
“We already have 4G coverage, and we are expanding 5G coverage nationwide. We also have the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) across the country. So we will have over 1,000 NADI across Malaysia.
“So essentially, we will be providing meaningful connectivity to the people across Malaysia, especially in rural areas.
“With the emergence of new satellite technology, as well as taking into account broadband usage, there will be more communities in rural and very remote areas able to access the internet,” he said. – 25 October 2024