More and more people are finding out about blockchain technology. Since 1991, when the idea of blockchain was born, no one could have imagined that it would be so much connected with our life and different spheres. Although many people associate blockchain with bitcoin, this is not the case. And the technology itself is very much in demand now.
Blockchain has already been successfully used in many areas:
- payment, charity,
- protection from plagiarism,
- including in healthcare.
In this article we’d like to say more in details about the healthcare sphere!
The use of blockchain technology in healthcare can improve work with electronic medical records, drug supplies, remote monitoring of patients, control of clinical and biomedical research, medical insurance, as well as analysis of medical data.
As we all know, the blockchain technology itself is a database that works in a decentralized manner and stores block chains with information about users and transactions. The blocks are interconnected and stored on the devices of each member of the network.
The peculiarity of this network is that the user has a complete copy of this database. Thus, decentralized systems ensure not only anonymous transmission and transactions, but also the security of the entire network and each individual user from attacks, fraudulent actions and loss of their data.
What prompted the use of blockchain in healthcare
The traditional way of storing patient information is outdated. Everyone is familiar with the situation when they have to carry all their previous tests and medical records. Or they are lost in medical institutions and everything should be done over again. And by understanding and knowing the advantages of the blockchain, the healthcare sphere can be improved and problems can be fixed.
Blockchain in Healthcare
1. E-medical records
Electronic records are stored longer and more efficiently. Modern blockchain technology allows you to ensure the authenticity of information and control its changes. That's why blockchain is so perfect for this area.
In addition, clinics and medical institutions will be able to exchange accurate medical information among themselves. But data exchange is prohibited without the patient's consent. Since this is confidential information. But blockchain technology solves this problem as well.
For example, the MedRec project (MIT Media Lab and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center) allows patients to independently determine who can access them. The projects Healthbank, Factom, Gem Health Network (GHN), HealthCombix, etc. are also working in this direction.
2. Supply chains and anti-counterfeiting
Counterfeit and substandard medicines are the most important problem of the pharmaceutical industry. Correct and accurate information and its immutability solve this problem, ensuring transparency at all stages of production, supply and sale of medicines.
Each transaction involves several parties:
- manufacturers,
- sellers,
- pharmacists,
- doctor,
- patients.
The use of blockchain for supply control will improve the visibility of any changes or attempts at forgery. Falsification of medicines can greatly harm patients. The blockchain confirms authenticity, and patients will be able to verify that the medicine came from a verified source.
3. Distribution of donor organs
To obtain high-quality donor organs for transplantation, it is necessary to have complete information about their origin. This process is carefully monitored in all countries, and the introduction of blockchain into monitoring systems will help to better control this.
For example, the UAE Ministry of Health is creating a blockchain system that allows you to track the origin of organs, as well as make sure that the donor has consented to their use.
4. Clinical and biomedical research
The use of blockchain in data exchange between research centers can significantly increase the speed of obtaining results. The technology also simplifies the data collection process for patients.
5. Remote patient monitoring
Remote monitoring also establishes a system for tracking the patient's condition, stores analyzes and medical history for other medical institutions, in case the patient moves to another place of care. By storing data and information about the patient, blockchain technology can provide it, but only with the patient's permission.
6. Health insurance
Insurance companies may encounter inaccurate information from customers, thereby spending additional money and time, and companies also bear risks.
Blockchain is a relatively new technology, and not all stakeholders fully understand its prospects. The economic feasibility of implementing blockchain is not always obvious, and for management and investors it is often a key factor.
Nevertheless, everything has pros & cons, and blockchain is not an exception. But only through testing this in real life and fixing, can help make a perfection. That’s why this technology should be implemented to see how it can really influence our future.
Therefore, the system is improving every year. And perhaps in the near future we will see the result!
