5G Telemedicine: Government performs first mammography in Latin America using this new technology
Prior to the deployment of the new network, an innovative experimental pilot program has been carried out using technology from Movistar Empresas and ALLM, which demonstrates the potential of the 5G network in the telemedicine sector.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2020 alone more than 2.2 million cases of breast cancer were reported around the world. In Chile, one in nine women suffer from this pathology. When detected in a timely manner, however, nine out of ten women have the chance of effective recovery. Thanks to new 5G technology, these types of examinations and procedures can be further developed in the future, enhancing telemedicine and remote examinations. With this in mind, Transport and Telecommunications Minister Gloria Hutt and Telecommunications Undersecretary Francisco Moreno, together with the CEO of Movistar Empresas, Rodrigo Sajuria, and the Head of ALLM in Chile, Luis Loyola, carried out the first mammography in Latin America using the 5G network. It was performed at Los Pajaritos Family Health Center (CESFAM), located in the Maipú municipality.
The mammograms that are currently performed by “mobile mammographs”, which travel to remote areas of Chile to take exams and store patient data locally, can only be transmitted to the Digital Hospital when the vehicle is connected to a cable in a hospital or office, due to the large volume of information contained in the images. This situation requires them to move around, generating delays of days and even weeks to receive the corresponding reports.
However, thanks to this experimental pilot program, which has a 5G router from the Telconsur company, the possibility of wireless transmission of high-quality exams in a maximum time of four minutes using fifth-generation mobile technology has been demonstrated. This can be achieved using mobile mammography machines located in different towns or rural areas. Additionally, the data delivery time between specialists, which normally takes weeks or days, will be reduced.
“Once again, the Chilean telecommunications industry has proven to be a regional leader, this time carrying out the first mammography in Latin America using the 5G network. This is a clear demonstration of how the new technology will contribute to the health sector and how technology is transforming and decentralizing medical services, which will positively impact citizens, especially those who live in extreme and/or remote areas,” Minister Hutt stated. She also pointed out that, “the use of telemedicine will keep increasing in our country. In 2019 alone, the total number of telemedicine interventions in the health services was 75,671; while in 2020, driven by the pandemic, this figure increased to 757,789. This proves beyond doubt that remote modalities are already part of Chileans’ new digital habits.”
Meanwhile, Undersecretary Moreno stated that “the deployment of 5G will prepare us for the medicine of the future, where medical assistance and tests, such as mammography, and even remote and robotic surgeries in real time, can be performed by specialist doctors who are miles away from patients. In addition, the development of new technologies such as the Internet of Things will allow a surgeon to operate on a patient 10,000km away using a robotic arm, while the massification of Big Data will allow a greater volume of medical data to be analyzed much quicker, thus obtaining patient diagnosis in less time than at present. These types of solutions will be of great benefit to the quality of life of thousands of families, since, with 5G, they will be able to opt for medical procedures and exams without being constrained by the establishment’s location.”
Rodrigo Sajuria, CEO of Movistar Empresas, pointed out, “we are convinced that if 4G connects people, and fiber optics connects homes and companies, the future 5G will be the engine of the Internet of Things and connected industries. This fifth generation will change the way we interact with mobile devices and technology in general, thanks to its high speed, higher bandwidth and very low latency. As the success story of 5G mammography shows, this technology will develop telemedicine, through patient care, sending exams and even remote procedures in areas that are difficult to access for traditional medical services.”
Meanwhile, the Head of ALLM in Chile, Luis Loyola, stated that “together with the ALLM team, we’ve been very honored and proud to contribute to this pilot program with our Join telemedicine platform, which shows how these new technologies can help speed up the detection of breast cancer in the near future and thus save many lives throughout Chile.”
The importance of mammography
According to the Health Ministry, breast cancer is the most frequent neoplasm affecting Chile’s female population. It is also the leading cause of death in women due to cancer.
For this reason, the mammography examination is essential in the early detection of breast cancer. In Chile, it is primarily performed on women between 50 and 69 years of age, especially on those with risk factors.
Mammography is an extremely important preventive exam, especially for women who have postponed it because of the pandemic.