An evolving list of Blockchain applications in Healthcare

Daniel Yasri
HealChain
Published in
3 min readJun 30, 2018

If you are reading this, I assume you must be trying to put some sense into the possibilities and concepts that could apply between blockchain and healthcare.

Well, you are in the right place! As you may have noticed by lurking around on the internet, at least for the 5 last years, blockchain seems to be everywhere and might be nowadays’ most exciting and promising technology.

On the other side we have “Healthcare”, promoting physical and mental health as well as the well-being of people around the world.

However, few people grasp the potential and possible applications this unique technology could bring to the medical sphere.

That’s why we’re here.

Let’s not waste any of your precious time and start listing those applications shall we?

Blockchain medical records for patients

As of today, accessing, managing and sharing your medical data seems like an impossible task that could only take place in your favorite Sci-Fi show.

Well, maybe not anymore. If you had your medical records on a universal, highly secured, blockchain, here are some of the things you could easily do:

  • Accessing and managing your health records anywhere in the world;
  • Sharing those with any healthcare professional you choose securely;
  • Keep track of your medical background (allergies, chronic diseases, vaccines…);
  • Give access to your data when you’re not able to (e.g. in case of emergency) ;
  • Check your latest medical prescriptions;
  • Much more…

Currently, the sole idea of you holding your personal medical data in your hands seems crazy, and I won’t even talk about being able to share it in a different country than yours, in the same country, or even to two different practitioners in your own local town…

Hospitals, Clinics, Doctors

As a healthcare professional, the blockchain is a “go to” technology that represents an easier way to manage your patients' data with the advantage of being almost flawless in terms of security.

Data Security

Speaking of security, did you know that your medical data is worth more on the black market than your credit card number? According to Protenus Breach Barometer report, 140 million patient records were hacked between 2015 and 2016.

The blockchain has the potential to keep your private information safe and secure while still being able to connect it everywhere.

Here are a few examples of what is possible:

  • Certified & private messaging between medical devices and service providers
  • Proof of ownership of medical records
  • Proof of authenticity for anti-counterfeiting technics

Medical Research

Having access to a huge anonymous database of patients is a dream that many would love to see happening in medical research. As of today, with all the different and disconnected services, it’s impossible to go over all the records that could be useful in new treatment protocols or simple epidemiological research.

The blockchain could allow research institutes to run audits that would reach for relevant medical information who would be transmitted back to them anonymously if allowed by the patient.

Economic Management

All around the world medical care fraud has caused millions of dollars in losses. Blockchain-based systems, while not making this number reach zero, could help minimize it by a lot more than many imagine. As a reminder, the blockchain is an immutable, transparent and highly secured registry.

Moreover, the overall cost of the healthcare system would be greatly reduced and highly optimized.

Drug development

Whether it is recruiting patients with a desired condition, searching for healthy volunteers or making patients’ results easily accessible (with their permission), the blockchain does it all with ease and could mean a big leap forward in pharmaceuticals.

The blockchain, with its proof of authenticity features and point-by-point tracking possibilities can also fight the traffic of counterfeit drugs that represent $200 billion in losses annually for pharmaceutical companies.

And more to come

As The Healthy Blockchain grows in size and reputation we will be publishing detailed articles on the different points listed here as well as adding new possibilities to this list.

Hoping to hear from you soon! ❤

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Daniel Yasri
HealChain

Doctor in Medical Psychiatry and computer science passionate, I evolve in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space since 2011.