Blockchain in healthcare: security, traceability and interoperability

Blockchain technology can have a significant impact on healthcare through various resources.

Blockchain in healthcare refers to the exchange of information through which medical devices transmit data collected about patients’ health. Thus, this technology has the potential to revolutionize the way data is managed and services are provided in the healthcare sector.

Currently, equipment is used for the transmission of patient data, such as: electronic bracelets, pacemakers, glucose sensors, etc. For this reason, blockchain technology improves the security, confidentiality and interoperability of data, while allowing patients to be integrated into an ecosystem.

This technology today spans different industries including financial services, retail, marketing and advertising. It has also been positively involved in healthcare.

Benefits:

The benefits of applying this technology in health and other sectors are diverse, highlighting improved security, transparency, cost reduction by eliminating intermediaries, and advanced traceability of assets and transactions. In addition, it promotes greater efficiency in transactional and business processes.
It generates a hash for each block of a patient’s clinical history. Likewise, it would encourage patients to show the data they need to third parties, keeping their identity confidential.
Transactions are permanently and unalterably recorded on the blockchain. In this way, an irrefutable historical record is created, in addition, it makes fraud difficult and guarantees data integrity.
Optimize the management of medical resources, such as the allocation of tests, medical visits, hospital beds and surgeries.
It can improve the security, confidentiality and interoperability of data.
It allows for improved management of patients’ clinical information, guaranteeing its integrity, privacy and consistency.
Securing health records, clinical trials, cold chain management. In this way, it allows verification of vaccine temperature control.
Vaccine distribution network.
Optimizing dentists’ cash flow, and accessing dental training and courses without physically traveling.
Notification of drug recalls.
The decentralized and cryptographic nature of the blockchain facilitates the secure storage and transfer of patients’ medical records. In addition, the blockchain also helps manage the drug supply chain more efficiently.

Applications:

Electronic medical records: Secure and accessible storage of medical records.
Research platforms: Data exchange to accelerate treatment development.
Supply chain management: Tracking medical products from manufacturing to delivery.

Disadvantages:

Immutability of information.
Speed of information processing.
Impossibility of recovering access.
51% attack
Stability.
Privacy.
High energy consumption, scalability issues, integration complexity, and more.

Types:

There are several types of blockchain, each with its own characteristics and applications in the health sector.

Public: Freedom of access and participation in the network.
Private: Access is allowed only for authorized members.
Hybrid: Offers a balance between privacy and transparency.

Blockchain technology, known for its application in cryptocurrencies, is revolutionizing the health sector by offering innovative solutions for data management and service delivery. For this reason, it has a positive impact and promises to improve people’s quality of life.

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