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Review
. 2024 Jun;47(3):100679.
doi: 10.1016/j.bj.2023.100679. Epub 2023 Dec 2.

The next generation of healthcare ecosystem in the metaverse

Yong Li  1 , Dinesh Visva Gunasekeran  2 , Narrendar RaviChandran  3 , Ting Fang Tan  3 , Jasmine Chiat Ling Ong  4 , Arun James Thirunavukarasu  5 , Bryce W Polascik  6 , Ranya Habash  7 , Khizer Khaderi  8 , Daniel S W Ting  9
Affiliations
Review

The next generation of healthcare ecosystem in the metaverse

Yong Li et al. Biomed J. 2024 Jun.

Abstract

The Metaverse has gained wide attention for being the application interface for the next generation of Internet. The potential of the Metaverse is growing, as Web 3·0 development and adoption continues to advance medicine and healthcare. We define the next generation of interoperable healthcare ecosystem in the Metaverse. We examine the existing literature regarding the Metaverse, explain the technology framework to deliver an immersive experience, along with a technical comparison of legacy and novel Metaverse platforms that are publicly released and in active use. The potential applications of different features of the Metaverse, including avatar-based meetings, immersive simulations, and social interactions are examined with different roles from patients to healthcare providers and healthcare organizations. Present challenges in the development of the Metaverse healthcare ecosystem are discussed, along with potential solutions including capabilities requiring technological innovation, use cases requiring regulatory supervision, and sound governance. This proposed concept and framework of the Metaverse could potentially redefine the traditional healthcare system and enhance digital transformation in healthcare. Similar to AI technology at the beginning of this decade, real-world development and implementation of these capabilities are relatively nascent. Further pragmatic research is needed for the development of an interoperable healthcare ecosystem in the Metaverse.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence; Ecosystem; Healthcare; Metaverse; Web 3·0.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest Author DVG reports investment in DoctorBell (acquired by MaNaDr, Mobile Health), AskDr, VISRE, Healthlink, and Shyfts. He reports serving as senior lecturer and faculty advisor to the medical innovation program of NUS, and appointment as physician leader (telemedicine) and general practitioner at Raffles Medical Group (RMG, SGX:$BSL).

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The Metaverse is a technological convergence of extended reality, AI, blockchain, IoT, 5G and 6G technology. VR, virtual reality; AR, augmented reality; MR, mixed reality; IoT, Internet of Things.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Underlying framework to deliver an immersive Metaverse experience. VR, virtual reality; AR, augmented reality; MR, mixed reality; BCI, brain computer interface; HMI, human machine interface.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The interoperable healthcare ecosystem in the Metaverse.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Hosting ophthalmic conferences by Digital Ophthalmic Society in the Metaverse. (A) The digital avatar of one of the attendees; (B) the experience of the attendee on the conference; (C) the virtual setting of the conference.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
A patient visiting a virtual clinic in the Metaverse.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
3D ophthalmic surgical rounds host by MetaMed Media.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Virtual optical shop in the Metaverse. It can activate an augmented reality try-on and purchase via a QR code.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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