Blockchain in Healthcare (original) (raw)

Although blockchain has started all in banking, however, its growth in healthcare industry has been very quick! In this Article I am going to have a discussion about potentials of Blockchain technology in Healthcare industry with Anton Hasselgren from Norwegian University of Science and Technology!

Zara: Could you please give me a one sentence definition of Blockchain

Anton:Blockchain can be described as an immutable ledger that logs data entries in a decentralized manner.

How would you expand your definition to one paragraph?

Decentralized data ledger that is controlled by no single entity, but a network. Blockchain is both a technical innovation but also an organizational and social innovation. The network and how consensus is achieved is key for its function.

How are you involved with Blockchain?

Conducting research in the field of blockchain and healthcare. Mainly exploring different uses-cases of blockchain technology to improve current processes and give new solutions to patients and healthcare professionals

What gaps in the market did you see, that made you go after this solution?

I believe that blockchain technology have a role to play in the health system of tomorrow. The potential uses-cases are many. However, this is a fairly new technology and a conservative industry, we are just in the beginning. I think the first real adaptions will be in facilitating access to health data, federated learning, increased transparency in health research and a (slow) movement towards empowerment of patient through access of their individual data.

Imagine, I will be representing a potential customer for your solution; what would be the advantages of using your service?

I currently exploring several blockchain based use-cases and solutions. One solution that we are currently working on provides a way for patients to verify competence of medical professional and for medical professional to build up a tamper-proof portfolio of work history.

Say that you are a telemedicine provider, providing clinical health services over video link. Our system provide your costumers (patients) with an increased trust in your services when they easily can verify that the medical professional they meet has the right license and the right competence to deal with your health problem. You will also give an advantage to the healthcare professionals working for you, providing them with an opportunity to show their real-life work competency.

What are the challenges on the path of adoption of blockchain in Healthcare?

Getting over the term "Blockchain", that I think still scares some people. Blockchain faces several challenges for adaption in the health sector. Regulatory challenges, conservative attitudes and to some extant - a broken health information system. Other challenges for adoption of blockchain in healthcare from my point of view are conservative attitudes, lack of common definitions and high stakes.

Do you believe blockchain will revolutionize your industry?

Maybe, Blockchain will have an impact, however I will not go as far as using the term revolution.

What would you say is the relationship between Digital Transformation and Blockchain?

In the current digital transformation in healthcare, a lot moving towards the better. However, some new problems may arise, trust issues is likely to be one. Blockchain have a role to play here.

What is the status of adoption of blockchain in Healthcare industry in your region?

In Scandinavia there are some research projects ongoing in the field of blockchain and healthcare. I would say that we are a couple of years away from seeing any real adaption here, although there are some recent initiatives with pharma cohorts that might speed up this adaption.

What would you say would drive the wheels of adoption of blockchain in Healthcare?

I believe academic research have a big role to play here. As mentioned before, healthcare is a conservative industry and be able to show academic research results that validates and proves the effect of different solution will be one key for adaption.

Can you describe a future of Healthcare industry with and without blockchain?

The healthcare industry is about to change. We moving towards healthcare 4.0 which will be a healthcare system that gradually transform to a virtual environment and health services will be fueled by AI services. Blockchain have a role to play here to increase trust in this updated healthcare system. Trust in the form of: Trust in the treatment that you receive, even if it´s from a AI healthcare worker, trust in health data management and trust in health research.

I hope this short interview had given you a glimpse of the status of blockchain in healthcare industry! Do not forget to follow ChainTalk to learn about blockchain in more industries.