Role of 5G telemedicine in rural areas: current applications and prospects

Rural and remote areas often face a relative shortage of health-care resources due to geographical and environmental constraints. With advances in information and communication technologies, telemedicine has emerged as an effective means of addressing health-care inequities in rural communities. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a shift in health-care delivery approaches. To reduce the risk of viral transmission, regulations governing teleconsultations were temporarily relaxed, facilitating broader adoption by health-care providers and the public and thereby increasing societal acceptance of digital health technologies. However, effective implementation of telemedicine depends on the availability of fast and reliable network infrastructure. Fifth-generation mobile networks (5G), characterized by high bandwidth, broad connectivity, and low latency, enable real-time synchronous sharing of diagnostic images for remote consultation, thereby overcoming geographical barriers to health-care access. In this study, we reviewed the literature on the health-care needs of rural areas, policy evolution of telemedicine, implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, and technical advantages of 5G. In addition, we compiled evidence-based case studies on the application of 5G telemedicine in rural settings, evaluating its effectiveness in facilitating specialty consultations and chronic disease management. Furthermore, we explored future directions and policy recommendations, aiming to establish practical 5G telemedicine models for enhancing health-care resource efficiency and promote accessibility in rural areas.