Rising technologies at the intersection of health and cutting-edge networks are turning science fiction into everyday practice. From robots aiding cancer treatment to telemedicine that monitors patient well‑being, and algorithms that assess heart attack risk, these advances are no longer distant dreams. Hospitals in Catalonia exemplify how digital health is already a tangible reality, signaling a future where medicine is redesigned around data and connectivity, with patient care at the core.
Mobile World Congress has outgrown its mobile roots and now hosts innovations that reshape multiple sectors, health among them. Barcelona and L’Hospitalet de Llobregat welcomed a surge of health tools powered by world‑leading networks, including 5G, illustrating how fast, reliable connectivity accelerates clinical workflows and patient engagement.
Josep M. Campistol, managing director of Hospital Clinic Barcelona, spoke at an event organized by the Mobile World Capital Barcelona Foundation. He highlighted how digital transformation will deeply alter hospitals across surgery, patient care, and professional training. The message was clear: technology will drive global improvements in health, enabling more efficient care delivery and better outcomes.
Mobile World Congress awaits the promises of 6G
Catalan hospitals are in the foreground
One venerable health center stands as a long‑standing leader in medical innovation. It pioneered widespread adoption of telemedicine, with a quarter of its visits now conducted remotely. Leaders anticipate a future where virtual interactions feel nearly seamless, and hospital specialists save time through digital tools that streamline diagnoses and treatment planning. High tech, when applied well, reduces radiology wait times and accelerates clinical decision making.
The concept of a “smart hospital” is not new. Sant Joan de Deu Hospital has long been at the forefront of tech adoption, personalizing patient care and extending clinical collaboration beyond hospital walls. More than ten years after its early experiments, the center uses virtual reality and 3D modeling to rehearse complex pediatric surgeries before they occur. This approach helps surgeons estimate tumor margins and optimize chemotherapy planning. An innovation program there, I4KIDS, focuses on pediatric diseases, social robotics, and new medical devices to support complex patients.
Sant Pau Hospital also participated in these developments. In 2018, the Barcelona Health Center played a key role in accelerating digital health innovation. The center connected more than 400 companies, hospitals, universities, and investors to push forward new ideas in the health tech ecosystem, with events like 4YFN highlighting the entrepreneurial energy of the congress.
During the week, MWC showcased several disruptive technologies. Rob Surgical, an initiative born at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in 2012, demonstrated a robotic system that guides surgeons with precision through complex, minimally invasive procedures. The system is designed to be an open platform adaptable to any hospital, improving efficiency and clinical outcomes. The project has already attracted substantial investment, underscoring the growing demand for flexible, scalable robotics in surgery.
A British robotics system, tested by King Felipe VI on opening day, represents another example of competition in the surgical robotics space. The well‑established da Vinci system in the United States has been used in tumor removal for years, including notable adoption at Vall d’Hebron Hospital, illustrating the international pace of robotics in medicine.
Showcase for entrepreneurs
MWC also serves as a global platform for women leaders in medical tech. One example is Judith Giro, a biomedical engineer behind Blue Box, a device that detects breast cancer through urine samples. Blue Box gained attention at 4YFN and was recognized as a disruptive emerging company, signaling the rising influence of women-led startups in health care.
Other innovators are advancing patient care through novel concepts. Martí Engli and colleagues, aged 22–30, founded Room2Explore, a project that makes hospital rooms interactive. The goal is to help children view hospitalization as a story rather than a threat, reducing fear and emotional burden. After winning the Hack the Hospital competition, the team is seeking partners to develop a prototype and bring their idea to broader use. The broader aim is to craft hospital environments that feel less intimidating and more empowering for young patients.