Thailand is developing a 5G-powered intelligent medical information and full-service system and has recently announced the cooperation of five organisations that will work on the project.

These organisations include Mahidol University's Faculty of Engineering, the Medicine and Engineering Faculties of Naresuan University, the Permanent Secretary Office of the Ministry of Public Health, and BPO firm Chanwanich. 

The project, titled "Thailand Health Data Space 5G", has been promoted under the R&D programme of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.

WHY IT MATTERS

In a press statement, the Engineering Faculty of Mahidol University said the 5G system for intelligent medical information will improve the country's health system across dimensions such as hospital transmission of information, diagnosis, follow-up, rehabilitation, and emergency treatment. It will also aid in reducing congestion in the health system.

Chanwanich CEO Thanaphon Kongboonma also said the system will enable all sectors within the Thai health system to systematically analyse health information through connectivity. 

A telemedicine platform called Med Care will also be developed under the THDS project. It will run on a high-speed digital 5G network and be made accessible for all Thai people via mobile devices. 

Med Care will offer four services: the Specialist Doctors app, a smartphone-based remote medical consultation system; the People app which provides access to personal health information and medical resources; the Family Doctor Clinic app where health staff can contact patients and enter their data; and the Village Health Volunteer app for surveillance, prevention and disease control, health rehabilitation and consumer protection monitoring.

Additionally, the THDS platform will be adopting international standards set by the European Health Data Space and Health Level 7. 

THE LARGER TREND

The creation of the THDS represents the first part of the development of Thailand's Big Data Health Information platform, which has three components: a big data infrastructure, a nationwide information system of hospital networks and a network of health service applications.

Thailand has been pushing the adoption of 5G across industries, including healthcare. Last year in December, one of its largest public hospitals, Siriraj Hospital under Mahidol University, signed the 5G Powered Smart Hospital Enabled with Cloud and AI memorandum of understanding with Huawei. The partnership saw the immediate upgrade of the hospital's existing infrastructure using 5G technology.

ON THE RECORD

"We are going to transform Thailand into a sustainable society by connecting all sectors involved in the Thai health system to transfer information more efficiently. The use of technology and innovation will increase the efficiency of work and accuracy of information in [the] healthcare system. The flow of information is beneficial to personnel and related medical departments," Dr Anan Kanoksilp, director of the ICT Centre under the Public Health Ministry's Permanent Secretary Office. 

"On the patient side, they benefit from the speed, quality, and safety of medical services during emergencies. The patient will be able to collect their medical history to guide and direct care for [themselves] and family members," the official added.