Blockchain in Healthcare

Abstract

The presented study examines the necessity and feasibility of using digital economic technologies in healthcare. Aim. The study aims to examine the specific features of the blockchain technology as a tool of the digital economy and to determine its advantages over conventional software, pointing out changes in the organization of work of healthcare providers associated with the reduction of labor costs in certain types of activities through blockchain implementation. Tasks. The authors examine potential areas of blockchain application in medicine such as telehealth, personal genome data storage, recording from monitors for diagnostic purposes to prevent access of unauthorized persons, secure storage of clinical records, creation of a unified register of patient information, transfer of medical information from paper to digital media. The viability of blockchain implementation in medicine is analyzed. Methods. This study uses general scientific methods of cognition to assess the feasibility of implementation of digital technologies in healthcare and to determine the prospects of economic development. Results. The general structure of blockchain implementation areas is presented. Strategies are proposed for reducing labor and energy costs of medical information processing, facilitating the development of new treatment technologies, creating and implementing pharmaceuticals marked by cryptoprotection in clinical practice. Conclusion. Examination of the specific features of the blockchain technology makes it possible to conclude that implementation of digital technologies significantly increases the medical, social, and economic efficiency of healthcare.