The Siriraj Hospital of Mahidol University has launched its 5G smart hospital with the support of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission and Huawei Thailand.

A press statement claims that the 5G smart hospital project is the "first and largest" in Thailand and the Southeast Asian region. 

Alongside the announcement, Huawei disclosed that together with the Siriraj Hospital, they will set up an innovation lab to incubate new 5G applications. About 30 medical apps enabled by 5G tech will be guided and promoted nationwide next year.

WHY IT MATTERS

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in his statement said the Siriraj World Class 5G Smart Hospital will help minimise processes for hospital staff, lower overall risk, and enhance the effectiveness and efficacy of healthcare. From this pilot project, the Thai government looks to expand the smart hospital project to other hospitals "in the future," the prime minister added.

THE LARGER CONTEXT

Since the pandemic started, Huawei and the Siriraj Hospital have strengthened their partnership around 5G. In June last year, they introduced 5G self-driving vehicles for contactless medical supply delivery. By the end of 2020, they signed a five-year memorandum of understanding which saw the immediate upgrade of the hospital's previous infrastructure and the conduct of demonstration events and exhibitions to promote 5G. Also last year, an innovation lab at the Srisavarindira Building of the hospital was established as part of its infrastructure project.

In other news, Mahidol University is a university partner in the government's Thailand Health Data Space 5G project, which is envisioned to enable all health stakeholders to systematically analyse health data through connectivity. The government 5G project forms the first part of the development of Thailand's Big Data Health Information platform, which includes the following components: a big data infrastructure, a nationwide information system of hospital networks and a network of health service applications.

Meanwhile, Huawei also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Medical Services in September to jointly promote 5G tech in the health sector. Under this two-year agreement, Huawei is to provide two public hospitals, the National Cancer Institute and Rajavithi Hospital, with 5G tech and supervise its adoption. The technology will be used for telemedicine and emergency care services.

ON THE RECORD

"The Thai government understands the importance of technology, successfully drafting a plan for Digital Thailand, and today is an important first step in the utilisation of digital technologies and 5G in the medical field," Prime Minister Chan-o-cha said.