This is the 4th article of our weekly series presenting challenges and blockchain use-cases to solve them. We are excited to hear your feedback or insights in the comments below!
So let’s dive into the challenge for this week’s article:
Challenge 4: Healthcare and medical data
In order to look into the case of blockchain technology and the healthcare industry, its best to first start with the blockchain definition. Although blockchain principles were initially applied in the financial world, known as the technology behind Bitcoin, this technology has enabled applications for many other industries including healthcare. Blockchains are distributed systems that record transactions on an encrypted digital ledger. When updating the information, each record is linked to the previous record, therefore “linked” like a chain. The analogy of a book and its papers can be used to explain this simplistically. Everyone gets a copy of the book and reads it. If one were to rip out a page in the book — everyone would notice that a page is missing — making it impossible for anybody to mess with the data. If one were to change the text/storyline of the book — everyone would notice that too, since they all read the book and can notice the change. What does this tell us? Bad actors will be noticed and dismissed from the system.
Instead of having a central authority decide what information is recorded, this process is done by all the participants of the network, meaning that information is broadcasted across a network of nodes and requires a consensus to be accepted. All entries are time and date stamped. When thinking about issues that face the healthcare industry, the nature of blockchain seems like a good problem-solution fit.
The overall vision for blockchain to disrupt healthcare in the future would be to solve many challenges that are currently halting the industry: “to create a common database of health information that doctors and providers could access no matter what electronic medical system they used, higher security and privacy, less admin time for doctors so there’s more time to spend on patient care, and even better sharing of research results to facilitate new drug and treatment therapies for disease.” (“Marr, B.”)
So, what are potential uses of blockchains in healthcare? Blockchain technology enables advancement related to the privacy, security, tracking, and access to patient health records.
Let’s divide this up into 2 use-cases:
Medical Data Management:
If you think of industries that are really drowning in data, one of them that jumps out is the healthcare industry. Although your general practitioner most probably has switched to digital records — What about your dentist of chiropractor? In reality, most records are dispersed on various platforms/locations and medical departments don’t have access to/or need to request other institutions’ data. This can take time and the lack of transparency/security in the medical sector can present a huge risk. It seems so crucial and still there has not been a common database for health information.
MedRec, is one example of a prototype using blockchain to improve electronic medical records by allowing patients’ records to be accessed securely and with consent by providers who require it. This solves the waste of time, money and duplication in procedures and confusion. (Merr, B.)
In addition, blockchain also addresses the challenge of data ownership. Today, patientS cannot claim full ownership of their medical records because they could change certain information or even delete parts of it. Due to this, patients need to trust central parties with their data. But the downside of not letting patients own their data is that they don’t always have control over who is using or sharing it. This is particularly true when it comes to wearables. Blockchain can provide a solution for data sharing as well as security. Smart contracts can be used to manage patient data access. Through an API, healthcare stakeholders can query the blockchain that provides the location where the data can be found without revealing patient identity. If needed, the patient can share his full medical record (with or without identifiable data) to any stakeholder. For instance, he could share identifiable data with his doctors and non-identifiable data with Big Pharmas looking for phase IV information. The patient can decide to whom he gives access to and on which conditions. (IBM Blockchain blog).
Supply Chain & Drug traceability:
Check out this shocking report from the World Health Organisation: WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System for substandard and falsified medical products: https://www.who.int/medicines/regulation/ssffc/publications/GSMS_Report_layout.pdf?ua=1
The main issue with fake drugs is that they are often very different from the original product in a quantitative and qualitative way. Indeed, many of them don’t have the active ingredients they claim they do. It often won’t treat the disease or even make it worse. Blockchain technology enables each new transaction added to a block, to be immutable and timestamped, making it easy to track a product and ensure that the information cannot be altered (IBM Blockchain blog).
Supply chains, involving pharmaceutical manufacturers, packagers, distributors, wholesalers, dispensers and regulators, could more seamlessly share information using a blockchain. With blockchain technology, each company in the supply chain could control one or several nodes.
It would simplify the transfer of data and allow product recipients to validate their provenance with greater certainty. The image below demonstrates this further (PwC: A prescription for blockchain and healthcare: Reinvent or be reinvented).
When looking at medical records/data, these can be added to the blockchain, which allows each party to see who last accessed the record or made any changes. The blockchain creates a secure way to record, access and track patients data, while also verifying the data automatically before adding it to the chain. This further allows clinical research results to prove the integrity and allow for industry-wide data compliance. Data sharing consent can be recorded on the blockchain to not misuse the patients preference for sharing data. Drugs can also be monitored through the blockchain to track them from manufacturer to patient. Insurance providers could develop smart contracts to ensure patients receive payments. Positive health reinforcement can be facilitated through tokenized incentives for people to engage in exercise, healthy activities and eating. (Philips, G.)
If you want to dive into this in more detail, check out this comprehensive review (Pratap, M.):
In addition the IBM Blockchain blog also provides a detailed analysis:
Apparently, according to a PwC survey of 74 global healthcare companies, 49% of companies are developing, piloting or implementing blockchain projects. It’s not hypothetical — its already being developed!
Here is a great resource of PwC, identifying 6 blockchain use cases in the healthcare sector (Gaffney, A.):
What are your thoughts? Do you know more use-cases? Comment below! Stay tuned for the next article about the challenges presented by the food industry, including blockchain solutions.
Don’t forget to check out our previous articles:
The unbanked and blockchain use cases: https://medium.com/@chainworkhub/real-world-challenges-and-blockchain-use-cases-2b83682440b2
Privacy, identity & data — including blockchain use cases: https://medium.com/@chainworkhub/identity-privacy-real-world-challenges-and-blockchain-use-cases-25e2816eec2b
The sharing economy and blockchain use cases: https://medium.com/@chainworkhub/the-sharing-economy-real-world-challenges-and-blockchain-use-cases-24e44a58832
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References:
Philips, G., How Blockchain Technology Is Being Used in Healthcare. Accessed on 20.01.19. Available at: https://blocksdecoded.com/blockchain-healthcare/
Patrap, M., Blockchain in Healthcare: Opportunities, Challenges, and Applications. Accessed on 18.01.19. Available at: https://hackernoon.com/blockchain-in-healthcare-opportunities-challenges-and-applications-d6b286da6e1f
Tapscott, D. How blockchain is changing money and business. Accessed on: 18.01.19. Available at: https://www.ted.com/talks/don_tapscott_how_the_blockchain_is_changing_money_and_business
Marr, B. This Is Why Blockchains Will Transform Healthcare. Accessed on: 30.01.19. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2017/11/29/this-is-why-blockchains-will-transform-healthcare/#6c69a7f11ebe
Gaffney, A. Six emerging uses for blockchain in healthcare. Accessed on: 30.01.19. Available at: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/library/six-uses-for-blockchain-in-healthcare.html
IBM Blockchain blog. What are the use cases for blockchain tech in healthcare? Accessed on: 29.01.19. Available at:
World Health Organisation. WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System for substandard and falsified medical products. Accessed on: 30.01.19. Available at: https://www.who.int/medicines/regulation/ssffc/publications/GSMS_Report_layout.pdf?ua=1
PwC: A prescription for blockchain and healthcare: Reinvent or be reinvented. Accessed on: 28.01.19. Available at: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/health-research-institute/blockchain-in-healthcare.html
Disclaimer:
This article is not intended to be a source or advice of investment, financial, technical, tax, or legal. All of this content is for informational purposes only.
