 |
| Huawei Marks Another 5G Breakthrough with Unmanned Vehicle in a Smart Hospital in Thailand |
The mentioned self-driving vehicle took advantage of 5G technology from Huawei for an innovative contactless delivery solution of medical supplies, which in the long run, can be viable in applying world-class technology to improve the healthcare industry.
Apart from delivering medicines, the unmanned 5G vehicle can also be useful in other industries, including logistics.
Amid the current global health emergency, the self-driving vehicle is an ideal way to minimize manpower and contact as it reduces workloads for healthcare workers in charge of bringing medicines to patients.
5G technology integration is also seen to be progressively applied in the national health system for smart hospital transformation in the near future.
See Also: Huawei Named as One of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2020
According to Takon Tantasith, Secretary-General of the Office of the NBTC, the organization has been utilizing 5G technology for remote medical services through the Community Health Promotion Hospital and large hospitals in Thailand leading the treatment and research for eye and skin diseases, as well as blood pressure abnormalities and diabetes.
“Moreover, the remote medical care has also expanded to local prisons, namely Khao Bin Central Prison and Ratchaburi Central Prison in Ratchaburi province, to give easier medical access to people and prisoners in remote areas.
The ongoing projects by the NBTC aim to drive greater benefits of 5G innovation into different aspects of life across the country,” Tantasith added.
The NBTC official underscored a successful feat made by Thailand in being one of the 5G leaders in ASEAN.
“The NBTC recognizes the competitive advantages and promotes the integration of 5G technology in different sectors to close the digital divide in the country. This is to get Thailand ready for digital transformation in driving our daily life, work, and manufacturing forward,” Tantasith furthered.
The NBTC is also set to evaluate the benefits and efficiency of the 5G-powered unmanned vehicle following its successful initial test trial in Siriraj Hospital before exploring its possible different uses, particularly in other health institutions.
Supporting this, Prof. Dr. Prasit Watanapa, Dean of Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, noted that through the 5G unmanned vehicle, the central logistics system within their hospital will be better.
“As a result of the COVID-19 situation, the safety of patients and medical workers must be prioritized, including effective use of resources. Siriraj Hospital places importance on taking full advantage of digital technology in order to holistically increase the efficiency of medical services and operations,” he said.
“At the initial stage, it will be used to transport and distribute medicines for contactless delivery which will help reduce workload and infection risks of frontline workers. This is another important step to improve the quality of healthcare services for long-term development and sustainability,” Watanapa added.
Speaking on behalf of Huawei, Mr. Abel Deng, Huawei Thailand CEO expresses gratitude, saying that it's an honor for the technology firm to take part in assisting Thai health workers.
“The pilot project of the driverless vehicle for Siriraj Hospital will operate under Huawei’s 5G technology to help transport medical supplies within the hospital. This pilot project exemplifies the accelerated digitalization of Thailand’s medical services as 5G will play a key role in the next generation of healthcare,” Huawei official said.
“The 5G applications in the public health domain could also inspire businesses in other sectors to leverage 5G's popularity and explore new applications of the technology. Most significantly, 5G technology will be the key driving force to recover the Thai economy and drive new economic and societal growth for the country across every aspect,” Deng added.