Dr Yujia Gao from Singapore’s National University Health System explores why hospitals across Asia-Pacific are ready for more connected, intelligent healthcare; and what still needs to happen to turn 5G ambition into everyday practice.
Healthcare across Asia-Pacific is entering a new phase of digital transformation. Artificial intelligence, connected medical devices, automation and virtual care are moving from aspiration to implementation. Yet our research suggests that one critical question remains unresolved: how can hospitals build the connectivity foundations needed to support these innovations at scale?
That question is central to the 5G Maturity and Adoption in Asia-Pacific Hospitals report, produced through the GSMA’s Connected Health & Community Care Accelerator (CHACCA) initiative and in partnership between NUHS, GSMA and HIMSS Asia-Pacific, supported by Ericsson and Singtel. Our research surveyed 50 senior hospital decision-makers across seven APAC markets and provides an important benchmark for healthcare’s readiness to adopt advanced connectivity technologies.
The findings reveal strong momentum, but also a significant execution challenge.
Exactly half of surveyed hospitals report having a 5G initiative, pilot or plan in place. However, only 24% have progressed to active deployment or execution. This gap between intention and implementation is perhaps the report’s most significant finding. Healthcare leaders increasingly recognise the value that advanced connectivity can deliver, but many organisations remain uncertain about how to move from pilot projects to enterprise-wide adoption.
Importantly, the barriers are not primarily technological. Respondents cited budget constraints, legacy-system integration, security and privacy concerns, workforce readiness and uncertainty around return on investment as the biggest obstacles to progress. The message is clear: the technology is ready, but many organisations still need the governance, skills and frameworks to deploy it effectively.
The research also highlights the growing relationship between advanced connectivity and broader digital transformation initiatives. Nearly nine in ten respondents identified remote patient monitoring and telemedicine as areas that stand to benefit from combining 5G and AI. Respondents also highlighted real-time medical imaging, emergency care applications, connected medical devices and smart hospital operations as key opportunities for future development.
This reinforces an important lesson from leading digital health organisations: advanced connectivity should not be viewed as a standalone network upgrade. Its real value lies in enabling an integrated digital ecosystem where AI, IoT, analytics and automation can operate reliably, securely and at scale.
The survey findings also demonstrate why collaboration and GSMA’s CHACCA is so important. The initiative was established to help bridge the gap between technological capability and practical implementation by bringing together healthcare providers, mobile operators, policymakers and technology leaders to develop evidence-based guidance for adoption and scaling. As hospitals move beyond experimentation, the need for shared frameworks, proven use cases and implementation best practices becomes increasingly important.
Perhaps the most encouraging finding is the direction of travel. Among hospitals already investing in 5G, two-thirds expect spending to increase in the coming years and none anticipate reducing investment. The issue is no longer whether advanced connectivity will become part of healthcare transformation, but how quickly organisations can build the capability to realise its benefits.
Through CHACCA, we are working to help healthcare organisations close that gap. By combining research, practical guidance and real-world deployment experience, we can accelerate the adoption of advanced connectivity solutions that improve operational efficiency, support clinicians and enhance patient outcomes.
The future of connected healthcare will be built not by networks alone, but through collaboration, evidence and execution. This research provides a clear starting point for that journey.
Join us for more on GSMA’s CHACCA initiative, and how to turn our shared ambition into practical adoption, at the GSMA’s Connected Healthcare Expert Forum in London on 19 and 20 October. If you’re interested in learning more or joining us at the event please get in touch.