Blockchain Technology in Health Care
Published: 2022-08-31 07:18:32

Blockchain technology is simply put is a digital record of unalterable, traceable data shared across a network of connected computers called nodes.

The data stored on the Blockchain network is tamper-proof and transactions carried out on the Blockchain can easily be traced.

But Blockchain technology is not just limited to finance, it cuts across so many industries like the Entertainment, Games, Healthcare industry and so many others.

This article will be covering the role of Blockchain technology in the Healthcare industry.

**The Role of Blockchain in the Healthcare Industry**
1. **Near-Perfect EMRs**
The abbreviation EMRs stands for Electronic Medical Records and it is no news that there are death cases and medical errors resulting from manipulated health records or medical histories.

Some health records can also be sketchy or incomplete which may be stemming from involvement with numerous healthcare centres or hospitals and we all know medical procedures run on precision & full histories.

Trying to compile a patient's health record might be a challenging task especially when he/she has been involved with numerous healthcare centres.

But with Blockchain technology, records are not subject to alterations or changes and each patient can be assigned a specific identity.

Any medical history including drug prescriptions, doctors’ appointments, genomes, laboratory test results and other details relating to the patient will be linked to his/her digital identity on the Blockchain.

Thus fostering near-perfect Electronic medical records (EMRs).

2.** Security & Privacy**
You might just be thinking, "How am I ever going to be comfortable putting up my health records on the Blockchain since data/transactions stored on it are said to be traceable/transparent?"

Trust me, I know how sensitive medical data can be but not to worry, Blockchains are of two kinds; Private Blockchains and Public Blockchains.

Public blockchains are blockchains like Ethereum blockchain which powers the medical DApps & services like Telemedicine etc.

Medical Transactions could be performed on the Ethereum Blockchain; these are transactions in the form of updating medical records and accessing those records too while the actual medical info like a doctor's remark, lab tests, drug prescriptions .etc. wouldn’t be displayed on the Blockchain when recorded but rather converted to a hash function (string of letters and numbers - converts the main medical info into a compressed numerical value).

This is where the security & privacy comes in; each hash function is unique to each medical info and can only be decrypted into the actual medical record by the owner of the data (the patient) and this is achieved with the Private Blockchain.

This private Blockchain helps to privatize and secure the medical records by ensuring that the patient gives his/her permission for his/her medical records to be accessed by using a digital signature.

The patient can also determine what part of the record should be accessed, personnel eligible to access it and the duration it should be accessed for.

Basically, digital signatures authenticate transactions on the Blockchain and a transaction occurs when a patient's record is updated or accessed.

3. **Tracking & Authenticity of Pharmaceutical & Medical Supplies**
A company called FarmaTrust created a tracking system using the Blockchain technology. With this system, since transactions carried out on the blockchain can be traced easily, healthcare providers/medical personnel’s can track the movement of pharmaceuticals or any other medical supplies bought from the manufacturing companies right through every supply chain till it gets to the hospitals and pharmacies.

This system also verifies the authenticity of drugs to get rid of fake, substandard and expired supply.

It also has a feature that automatically notifies the Drug Law agencies when an issue is identified with any of the supply.

4. **Telemedicine & Verification of Medical Credentials**
Telemedicine is the method of practicing remote healthcare using technology.

MedCredits is a decentralized platform which enables a patient to virtually consult a physician verified with the platform.

Patients make payments using the MedCredits token - MEDX which is an ERC-20 token (Ethereum based token).

Telemedicine practiced using the Blockchain technology eliminates the need for middle men & exorbitant consultation fees.

Physicians joining the platform also have their credentials verified by the operating nodes, this will ensure access to competent physicians and also enable them to have flexible work schedules.

Also, physicians pay a certain amount of MEDX to get verified with MedCredits.

5. **Medical Exchange (Share to Earn)**
Medical marketplaces and exchanges are created using the Blockchain technology where people anonymously and willingly sell their DNA testing data or Genomes to authorized medical researchers ready to study with them in return for tokens.

Scalability and exorbitant payments has hindered the growth of Genomics because a lot of middlemen were involved with the transactions but with the Blockchain technology, DNA data are easily and directly bought by Medical researchers on medical exchanges eliminating the need for middle men.

One company offering a marketplace for people willing to sell their DNA DATA for cash is Medical Chain.

On their platform you can sell your Data for MTN tokens.

In conclusion, the introduction of Blockchain technology into the Healthcare industry has improved healthcare services nevertheless it is still a very slow adoption.