Haroon Riaz

Application of 3G Technology in the Healthcare Industry With the introduction of 3G technology, hardly any sector could be revolutionized as much as the healthcare sector in Pakistan. This only goes to show the immense potential of the 3G technology in its application in different industrial sectors. Remote emergency response checkup Every second counts in an emergency situation. The vital medical data of the patient can be the difference between life and death. The remote health monitoring equipment in hospital ambulances can help communicate vital data from the patients to doctors, who can instruct paramedics at the spot depending on their examination. Physicians can make better informed decisions reading the physical symptoms and vital signs of the patients transmitted from the portable devices carried by the paramedics. This could make a huge difference as they would be able to guide the treatment administered by paramedics with their expertise, which would be otherwise missing with such detail without such a mechanism. As a matter of fact, virtual ambulances are already a reality.[1] For such telehealth equipment, a good deal of voice, video and other data need to be transferred at a healthy rate, making 3G technology indispensable for its function. Remote surgical and checkup meetings For an economy that is desperately lacking adequate healthcare coverage for rural areas, 3G technology can change lives of millions. With the help of remote patient monitoring, experts can provide healthcare advice to patients in the remotest of locations. Remote patient monitoring is already established in developed countries, but its use is not unheard of in the developing world as well. 3G penetration has helped in improving healthcare facilities in the remote islands of Phang Nga province of Thailand.[2] A WHO initiative also ensured telemedicine solution to be implemented in rural localities in India and counties in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia.[3] Of course, there is nothing new about the idea of remote surgery. It is already here, saving lives.[4] According to a study published by the British Medical Journal in 2012, remote patient monitoring was found to be associated with reduction in mortality and emergency admissions.[5] Setting up remote clinics in far off areas such as communities in Northern areas, Azad Kashmir and Baluchistan can work wonders for the standard of living of the local populace. Wireless Function for Wearable Devices The most convenient and useful application of mobile health remains to be wireless wearable devices. These devices are used for remote monitoring of patients and transmit vital data round the clock. These devices significantly help to reduce emergency visits and ensure timely treatment. The market for these devices is growing around the world, expected to reach $ 19 billion by 2018, according to Juniper Research.[6] TeleHealth Apps Telehealth apps are the future of medicine, and many have entered this new era already. The number of users of such apps is expected to grow to 500 million by 2015.[7] Observation and daily living apps, as well as store and forward apps are used to record, process and securely submit data related to patients to the required recipients. Some of these devices require considerable transfer of data, for which high speed internet connectivity is essential.   Considering the limited healthcare resources in Pakistan, especially with one doctor available for every 1,127 people[8], the role of technology can prove to be revolutionary for social welfare. While, telehealth has limited application in Pakistan at the moment, the increasing smartphone penetration is only going to help the cause. Furthermore, Asia Pacific is seeing the largest growth in terms of telehealth, which is an encouraging indicator for Pakistan.[9] Not only private health sector enterprises should make the most of this tremendous business opportunity, but the public sector should ensure that it keeps pace with the changing times as well. References:  [1] LifeBot: LifeBot Announces the World’s First “Virtual Ambulance” Telemedicine Crash Cart System to be Introduced at HIMSS 12 with Hewlett Packard – Available at: http://www.lifebot.us/news/lifebot-announces-the-worlds-first-virtual-ambulance-telemedicine-crash-cart-system-to-be-introduced-at-himss-12-with-hewlett-packard/ [2] Qualcomm: Economic Benefits of 3G for Different Countries of the World, pp. 3-4 – Available at: https://www.qualcomm.com/media/documents/files/economic-benefits-of-3g-for-different-countries-worldwide.pdf [3] WHO: Compendium of innovative health technologies for low-resource settings, eHealth, 2013 – Available at:  http://www.who.int/ehealth/resources/compendium_ehealth2013_7.pdf [4] BBC News: The surgeon who operates from 400 km away – Available at: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/--i-operate-on-people-400km-away [5] British Medical Journal: Effect of telehealth on secondary care and mortality, 2012 – Available at: http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e3874 [6] Juniper Research, Press Release: Mobile Smart Wearable Devices to be worth $19 Billion by 2018. Available at: http://www.juniperresearch.com/viewpressrelease.php?id=489&pr=405 [7] Van Doornik, William (October 2013). “Meaningful Use of Patient-Generated Data in EHRs.”. Journal of AHIMA 84 (10): 30–35 – Available at:  http://library.ahima.org/xpedio/groups/public/documents/ahima/bok1_050394.hcsp?dDocName=bok1_050394#Notes [8] Lancet healthcare report cited in Express Tribune, 2013. Available at:  http://tribune.com.pk/story/550876/unhealthy-revelations-pakistan-plagued-by-dismal-healthcare-system/ [9] Telecare Services Association, Expect Rapid Growth for Telehealth, mHealth markets. Available at:  http://www.telecare.org.uk/news/expect-rapid-growth-for-telehealth-mhealth-markets