Privacy in a Digital Age: How Blockchain Can Revolutionize Patient Confidentiality
Introduction:
As the digital transformation of healthcare continues, there is a growing need to secure sensitive patient information and ensure its confidentiality. Blockchain technology, with its decentralized and tamper-evident characteristics, offers a promising solution to these challenges. In this article, I will propose how blockchain can enhance data security and protect patient privacy in digital health (Dtx) applications.
What is Digital Health (Dtx):
A survey conducted in January 2023 found that 40% of U.S. adults used at least one mobile health app, an increase from 34% in 2018.A specific and specialized category of mobile health apps regulated by the FDA is known as “digital therapeutics” (DTx). According to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), a “digital therapeutic” is officially described as “health software designed to manage or mitigate a disease, disorder, condition, or injury through the creation and application of a medical intervention that positively affects the patient’s health.” The FDA assesses the safety and efficacy of each digital therapeutic and decides whether it requires a prescription for use. If a prescription is necessary, the app is classified as a prescription digital therapeutic (PDTx). This classification sets DTx and PDTx apart from the myriad of mobile health apps available in the marketplace. The global market for PDTx was valued at USD 6.2 billion in 2023, but it is forecasted to grow to USD 32.5 billion by 2030.
Problems in Patient Privacy and Data Security:
The collection, storage, and use of health data by digital health platforms and devices raise significant concerns about patient privacy and data security. Debates focus on how to protect sensitive information from breaches and unauthorized access while still promoting innovation in healthcare technology.
Existing Regulation is Lacking:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adopts a risk-based regulatory model for medical devices and mobile health applications. Applications that are considered to have a minimal risk are those designed to assist individuals in managing their health conditions or diseases without providing specific treatments or recommendations. However, a significant number of mobile health apps accessible to the U.S. populace are not under the purview of regulation. Consequently, they are not subject to safety or effectiveness assessments. Presently, the FDA’s regulatory attention is confined to applications that are defined as medical devices and have the potential to endanger patients should they malfunction.
Blockchain as a Solution:
Firstly, what even is blockchain? Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology that records transactions in a secure, transparent, and tamper-proof way. Each ‘block’ in the chain contains a number of transactions, and every time a new transaction occurs on the blockchain, a record of that transaction is added to every participant’s ledger.
Blockchain technology addresses the risk of data breaches by creating an environment where patient data is fragmented and distributed across a network, making it nearly impossible to hack or alter without detection. Its decentralized nature ensures that patient data is immutable and traceable, which builds trust between patients and providers. Every transaction on a blockchain is time-stamped and added to a chain in a linear, chronological order. This feature ensures a transparent, auditable trail of access and changes to health data, which helps to prevent unauthorized access and alterations.
Smart Contracts are Structured to Solve this Privacy Issue:
Blockchain’s applications in healthcare are diverse, including managing patient consent for data sharing, securely tracking health records, and ensuring compliance with privacy laws. Smart contracts, which are programs stored on a blockchain that run when predetermined conditions are met, can be designed to protect sensitive patient data. For example, smart contracts can control who can access a patient’s data by requiring digital signatures that match predefined criteria, thus enforcing privacy agreements. Blockchain can empower patients with control over their health data; patients can manage their consent for data sharing by engaging directly with the smart contract. They can grant access to their health records to specific providers for a set period or for certain types of information, and this consent is recorded immutably on the blockchain.
Logistically, smart contracts can also facilitate interoperability between different digital health applications and healthcare systems. Acting as connectors between different systems, it can ensure that each system adheres to shared protocols without the need for a middleman. This is possible since smart contracts can define standard protocols for how data is formatted, shared, and stored, which ensures that different systems can read and write data in a universally comprehensible way. The interoperability facilitated by smart contracts thus ensures that patients’ health records are portable, secure, and interoperable across different healthcare systems without compromising privacy or security.
Conclusion:
Patient privacy and data security are paramount, particularly in the technology revolution era, because digital health applications and advancements exponentially increase the risk of personal health information exposure and misuse. Ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of this sensitive data is crucial not only for maintaining individual privacy but also for upholding the trust that is essential for the successful adoption and efficacy of emerging healthcare technologies.
The integration of blockchain in healthcare marks a significant move toward a system that is more secure, transparent, and efficient. As its applications expand, blockchain holds great promise for transforming healthcare, enhancing operational efficiencies, and improving patient care, heralding a future where healthcare stakeholders can navigate a landscape empowered by technological innovation.
REFERENCES:
- Zipp R. Use of Health Apps and Wearables Is Up. But Digital Health Still Has Room to Grow. Morning Consult Pro. Updated February 21, 2023.
- Grand View Research. Digital Therapeutics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Application (Diabetes, Obesity, Smoking Cessation, Respiratory Disease), by End-use (Patients, Providers, Payers, Employers), by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2024–2030.
- Food and Drug Administration. Policy for Device Software Functions and Mobile Medical Applications: Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff. Updated September 28, 2022.
- https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/contributed-blockchain-healthcare-and-enhancing-security-and-transparency#:~:text=With%20the%20rise%20in%20digital,hack%20or%20alter%20without%20detection.
Citation for Generative AI Usage:
“What is blockchain?” prompt. ChatGPT, OpenAI, 21 April. 2024
“How can smart contracts improve interoperability between digital health applications and different healthcare system, facilitating secure data exchange? How does this work?.” prompt. ChatGPT, OpenAI, 21 April. 2024
“Make me a banner (header image) for to this news article , ‘Blockchain can Protect Patient Data in Digital Health Applications’” prompt. ChatGPT, OpenAI, 21 April. 2024
