Exploring the Risks, Benefits, Advances, and Challenges in Internet Integration in Medicine With the Advent of 5G Technology: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

The integration of 5G technology in the healthcare sector is poised to bring about transformative changes, offering numerous advantages such as enhanced telemedicine services, expedited data transfer for medical records, improved remote surgery capabilities, real-time monitoring and diagnostics, advancements in wearable medical devices, and the potential for precision medicine. However, this technological shift is not without its concerns, including potential health implications related to 5G radiation exposure, heightened cybersecurity risks for medical devices and data systems, potential system failures due to technology dependence, and privacy issues linked to data breaches in healthcare. We are striking a balance between harnessing these benefits and addressing the associated risks. Achieving this equilibrium requires the establishment of a robust regulatory framework, ongoing research into the health impacts of 5G radiation, the implementation of stringent cybersecurity measures, education and training for healthcare professionals, and the development of ethical standards. The future of 5G in the medical field holds immense promise, but success depends on our ability to navigate this evolving landscape while prioritizing patient safety, privacy, and ethical practice.

Cybersecurity for Sustainable Smart Healthcare: State of the Art, Taxonomy, Mechanisms, and Essential Roles

“…With the increasing number of cyber threats to SHSs, it is paramount to keep security measures up to date and undertake frequent security audits and testing to detect possible systems and network architecture vulnerabilities. According to Agrawal et al [173], regular security audits are proactive strategies for identifying and fixing vulnerabilities and flaws in SHSs, IoMT devices, and network infrastructure before cybercriminals exploit them. Regular security audits and penetration testing improve the security of SHSs, ensuring robust defenses against potential cyberattacks and protecting sensitive patient medical data [50][173].…”

“…Healthcare providers must develop an incident response strategy before the event occurs and secure all indications, detection procedures, and analytical approaches. A robust and coordinated response to security incidents alleviates the impact, while patient care is undisturbed [173]. Incident response plans are essential in smart healthcare because they reduce SHS downtime, detect and respond to security incidents, reduce financial loss, ensure that healthcare providers comply with regulations, improve stakeholder confidence and effective resource allocation, improve recovery time, and continuously improve the security posture.…”

“…With the healthcare industry's rapidly expanding cyber threat landscape, continuously monitoring and detecting threats and vulnerabilities in SHSs is critical. Healthcare providers must be aware and practical in detecting and reducing cyber risks as they arise [173]. Continuous monitoring and anomaly detection include collecting, analyzing, and interpreting multiple data points on healthcare systems instantly to find deviations from expected patterns or behaviors.…”

“…Healthcare regulations establish strict data collection, storage, and sharing standards to safeguard patient rights and maintain medical data security. To comply with legal requirements, healthcare organizations must prioritize medical data governance, build robust security procedures, and implement rigorous access restrictions [173]. Privacy and data security, interoperability standards, medical device regulations, ethical concerns, quality and safety standards, regulatory reporting and documentation, and ongoing monitoring and compliance updates are all aspects of regulatory compliance in smart healthcare.…”