Résumé
Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry through secure data management and increased transparency.
Blockchain integration in healthcare faces challenges such as upfront costs, scalability, standardization, and regulatory compliance.
The decentralization and distribution of blockchain data can facilitate the security and synchronization of patient records.
Blockchain integration can improve interoperability between healthcare providers, enabling accessible and transparent patient care.
Introduction
Although more commonly associated with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology has also been explored for data storage and protection across various industries. The healthcare sector is one of the most discussed use cases alongside charities and the supply chain. But what aspects of blockchain make it suitable for the healthcare sector?
The benefits of using blockchain in the healthcare sector
Some of the features that allow cryptocurrency blockchains to act as a secure record of financial transactions are also applicable to the storage of medical data. Since most blockchains are designed as distributed systems that store and protect files through the use of cryptography, it is extremely difficult for someone to disrupt or modify data without having everyone's approval. the other participants in the network. Therefore, immutability is one of the features that enable the creation of incorruptible databases for medical records.
In addition, the peer-to-peer (P2P) architecture used in blockchains makes it possible to synchronize all copies of a patient's record as updates occur, even if they are stored on computers. different. In fact, each node on the network holds a copy of the entire blockchain and communicates regularly to ensure the data is up-to-date and authentic. Thus, decentralization and distribution of data are also important aspects.
It is worth mentioning that blockchains are distributed, but not always decentralized (in terms of governance). Decentralization is not a binary phenomenon. Depending on how nodes are distributed and the overall architecture, distributed systems can exhibit varying degrees of decentralization. In the healthcare context, blockchains are typically built as a private network, as opposed to public networks that are typically used as cryptocurrency ledgers. While anyone can join and contribute to the development of a public blockchain, private versions require authorization and are managed by a smaller number of nodes.
Potential benefits of using blockchain in healthcare
The power of blockchain goes beyond finance and extends to the healthcare sector, from securing patient data to ensuring the authenticity of pharmaceutical products. Here are some potential use cases that show how blockchain technology can revolutionize healthcare.
1. Increased security
As noted, one of the most important use cases for blockchains in healthcare is leveraging the technology to create a secure and unified peer-to-peer (distributed) database. Thanks to the immutability of blockchains, data corruption should no longer be a concern. Blockchain technology can be used to efficiently record and track the medical data of thousands of patients.
Unlike traditional databases which rely on a centralized server, the use of a distributed system allows the exchange of data with higher levels of security while reducing the administrative costs imposed by the current system. The decentralized nature of blockchains also makes them less vulnerable to technical failures and external attacks that often compromise valuable information. The security provided by blockchain networks can be particularly useful for hospitals, which often face hacker invasions and ransomware attacks.
2. Interoperability
Another advantage of blockchain-based medical records is their ability to improve interoperability between clinics, hospitals and other healthcare providers. Technological differences in data storage systems often make it difficult for organizations to share documents.
Blockchains, however, can solve this problem by allowing authorized parties to access a unified database of patient records or even drug dispensing records. So rather than trying to interface with each other's internal storage, service providers can work together on a single storage.
3. Accessibility and transparency
In addition to simplifying the process of sharing records, blockchain systems can also provide patients with increased levels of accessibility and transparency over their own health information. In certain circumstances, requesting validation of changes to patient documents can ensure record accuracy. Used correctly, this can provide an extra layer of security against human error and intentional tampering.
4. Reliable supply chain management
Blockchains can provide a reliable method for tracking pharmaceutical products throughout the manufacturing and distribution process, reducing the widespread problem of counterfeit medicines. In conjunction with IoT devices used to measure factors such as temperature, blockchain technology could also be used to verify proper storage and shipping conditions or to authenticate the quality of medicines.
5. Protection against insurance fraud
Blockchain could also be used to combat medical insurance fraud, which is estimated to cost the U.S. healthcare system more than $100 billion each year. Immutable records stored on blockchains and shared with an insurance provider can prevent some of the most common types of fraud, including billing for procedures that never took place and billing for unnecessary services.
6. Recruitment for clinical trials
Another use of blockchain in healthcare is to improve the quality and efficiency of clinical trials. Medical data on blockchains could be used by clinical trial recruiters to identify patients likely to benefit from the drugs being tested.
Such a recruitment system could greatly improve clinical trial recruitment, as many patients are never informed of relevant drug trials and, therefore, never given the opportunity to participate. During testing, blockchains could be used to ensure the integrity of the data collected.
The challenges of integrating blockchain into healthcare
The implementation of blockchain technology in healthcare is certainly promising, but it comes with certain challenges. Let's look at some of these key concerns.
1. Compliance
Taking the United States as an example, healthcare companies that want to adopt blockchain technology are required to comply with existing data regulations, such as the Data Portability and Data Protection Act of 1996. Health Insurance Accountability (HIPAA).
HIPAA outlines the standards for storing, sharing, and protecting data in the healthcare industry. Thus, in order to be fully compliant, companies located in the United States should deploy custom blockchain systems of record with increased privacy features and limited accessibility.
2. Upfront costs and speed
On the provider side, blockchain solutions are likely to involve a high initial investment, which prevents wider adoption. Additionally, distributed systems tend to be significantly slower than centralized systems in terms of transactions per second.
A large blockchain network with many nodes would likely need more time to transmit and synchronize data compared to centralized systems. This is particularly concerning for huge databases that would eventually have to store and track the information of millions of patients. The problem would be even worse for large image files, such as CT or MRI.
3. Education gap
The complexity of blockchain technology creates educational challenges in healthcare. This lack of understanding can lead to underutilization and poor implementation of blockchain solutions.
Continuing training and education is necessary to equip healthcare professionals with knowledge of potential use cases, appropriate implementation strategies, and awareness of evolving regulations and cyber threats.
4. Scalability
The enormous amount of data produced by the healthcare sector poses a significant scalability challenge for blockchain networks. As the volume of data increases, the transaction time and operational cost of some blockchains also increases.
This limitation may delay information retrieval or transaction verification, negatively impacting system efficiency and patient care. Additionally, these concerns may discourage healthcare entities from adopting blockchain, which would hinder industry innovations and progress.
5. Data normalization
Blockchain needs uniform data entry to promote effective communication and interoperability within the network. However, this is particularly challenging in healthcare, given the wide range of data types and formats.
Without a standardized data protocol, the exchange of information could result in misinterpretations or errors, disrupting the system. Therefore, standardizing data without losing important details of health information poses a major obstacle to the use of blockchain in healthcare.
Conclusion
From securely managing patient data to improving transparency and security, blockchain holds great potential for the healthcare sector. However, the education gap, scalability issues, and existing regulatory frameworks are some of the factors to consider. Balancing these complexities with the many benefits of blockchain will require a meticulous and collaborative approach from all healthcare stakeholders.
For more information
What is the blockchain trilemma?
Layer 1 vs. Layer 1 Blockchain Scalability Solutions layer 2
What is Blockchain and how does it work?
Disclaimer and Risk Warning: This content is presented to you “as is” for general information and educational purposes only, without representation or warranty of any kind. It should not be construed as financial, legal, or professional advice, or as a means of recommending the purchase of any specific product or service. You should seek appropriate professional advice before making any decision. Where the article was written by a third-party contributor, please note that the opinions in the article do not necessarily reflect those of Binance Academy. Please read our full disclaimer here to find out more. Prices of digital assets can be volatile. The value of your investment may go down as well as up and you may not get back the amount you invested. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions and Binance Academy is not responsible for any losses you may incur. This content should not be construed as financial, legal, or professional advice. For more information, please refer to our Terms of Use and Risk Warning.
