Introduction to Blockchain Technology and Its Role in the Healthcare Sector
Sumit Koul, T. Prasanna Krishna · 2022
Blockchain is a technology used for implementing a decentralized ledger. The data is entered in blocks, which have a header, and cannot enter the next block without gaining access from the previous one. The data is tamper-proof and cryptographic hash is used to secure the data. Blockchain transfers the values between various parties, which are called transactions. The properties of blockchain are atomicity, synchronicity, availability, immutability, and immortality. The blockchain can be used in the sectors of supply chain management, decentralized notary, electoral voting, healthcare, identity management system, access control system, etc. Numerous applications of blockchain 3.0 show that this technology is still on trend after a few years from its birth and indicates that there is potential of it progressing in the coming years. Blockchain is a system for the storage and sharing of information that is secured due to its transparency. Blockchain technology has a lot of uses in the healthcare sector, including enhancing capabilities in various subsectors such as use of wearable health devices and tracking gadgets, keeping health information up-to-date, and storing data digitally. Blockchain research in health care is at the moment inadequate. This chapter incorporates the introduction to blockchain and has briefly discusses various components of blockchain in detail. The emphasis is made on the application of blockchain with respect to the healthcare sector and its implementation in the healthcare sector. Some of the beneficiary points are explained, such as as records of individual or groups of patients, master patient indices, adjudicating claims, supply chain management as well as interoperability. In the end, statistical analysis has been done.