Malaysia has taken a significant step in digital healthcare innovation following the successful execution of one of the world’s first multi-country, real-time live surgeries enabled by 5G, artificial intelligence and extended reality technologies.
The collaboration between Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) and telecommunications provider CelcomDigi saw a complex ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgical procedure streamed live across multiple countries, allowing medical professionals and students to observe and interact with the operating team in real time. The surgery was conducted at UMMC in Petaling Jaya and transmitted using a 5G-enabled, AI-powered HoloMedicine Robotics XR platform.
The procedure was led by UMMC director and head and neck oncosurgeon Professor Dr Mohd Zulkiflee Abu Bakar, alongside senior lecturer and ENT clinical specialist Dr Julius Goh Liang Chye. Live participation was enabled for specialists and students from institutions in the United States, including Harvard Medical School, Mayo Clinic and Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, as well as from South Korea, Bhutan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and several locations across Malaysia.
CelcomDigi’s ultra-low latency 5G network supported high-definition, synchronous video transmission, allowing participants to observe fine surgical detail while engaging in two-way communication with the operating theatre. The setup enabled real-time clinical feedback and remote proctoring, demonstrating how next-generation connectivity can support advanced surgical training and cross-border collaboration.
The demonstration highlighted the growing role of 5G-enabled extended reality platforms in overcoming traditional barriers to specialist medical education, particularly geographic distance and limited access to expert mentors. By combining XR visualisation with AI-assisted tools, the system allowed remote participants to experience surgical procedures with a level of immersion not previously possible using conventional broadcast technologies.
UMMC said the initiative represents a shift in how surgical education and specialist knowledge sharing can be delivered, allowing clinicians and trainees to participate in complex procedures beyond physical boundaries. The hospital plans to build on the success of the ENT surgery with additional live demonstrations in urology, colorectal surgery and further ENT cases, extending the use of the platform across multiple clinical disciplines.
The project also served as a proof point for the safe integration of emerging digital technologies into live clinical environments. Organisers said the success of the surgery showed that advanced connectivity, AI and XR tools can complement existing surgical workflows without disrupting patient care, while enhancing training quality and clinical collaboration.
The collaboration underscores Malaysia’s ambitions to position itself as a regional hub for digital healthcare and medical innovation, while highlighting how 5G-enabled platforms could support future models of remote learning, specialist mentoring and cross-border medical cooperation across Southeast Asia.
Image: Group Photo of Dr Julius, Clinical Specialist ENT UMMC and team. Credit: CelcomDigi
