Analysis of Blockchain in the Healthcare Sector: Application and Issues
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. Blockchain Principles
1.2. Symmetric Decentralized Ledgers of Blockchain
1.3. Asymmetric Cryptography in the Blockchain
1.4. Our Objectives
- To demonstrate the blockchain application in the medical/healthcare sector and its major role in enhancing the overall performance of the medical/healthcare fields.
- To explore the various issues and challenges of applying blockchain technology in the medical/healthcare fields.
1.5. Paper Structure
2. Related Works
3. Materials and Methods
3.1. Study Design
3.2. Search Strategy and Search Performance
3.2.1. Population
3.2.2. Intervention
3.2.3. Outcome
- Population-Medical sector
- Intervention-blockchain technology
- Outcome-impact/usage/challenges
- Search string 1:(“blockchain technology” OR “medical sector” OR “impact/usage”)
- Search string 2:(OR “medical sector” OR “impact/usage”)
- Search string 3:(“application” OR “performance” OR “healthcare” OR “improve”).
- Search string 4:(Challenges” OR “blockchain technology”)
- Search string 6:(“Security challenges” OR “Privacy challenges” OR “information technology “).
3.2.4. Study Selection Process
3.2.5. Inclusion Criteria
- Studies that described the application of blockchain technology within the healthcare sector.
- Studies describing challenges and concerns of application of blockchain in healthcare systems.
- Studies highlighting the security and privacy concern related to the use of blockchain in the healthcare system.
3.2.6. Exclusion Criteria
- Studies that were not specific to the current two study objectives.
- Studies that were not describing the application of blockchain technology in the healthcare sector.
- Studies that were not describing the security and privacy issues related to blockchain technology.
3.3. Sampling Procedure
3.4. The Process of Data Collection and Application of PRISMA
3.5. Synthesis and Analysis of Data
3.6. Ethical Considerations
4. Findings and Discussions
4.1. Current Issues in the Healthcare Sector and How Blockchain Can Help in Addressing Them
4.2. Application of Blockchain within the Healthcare System
4.2.1. Drug Traceability
4.2.2. Electronic Health Record
4.3. Challenges and Issues Associated with Using Blockchain in the Healthcare Sector
5. Conclusions and Recommendations
6. Contributions and Novelty of the Study
7. Limitations
8. Managerial Implications
9. Future Directions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
Abbreviation | Meaning |
her | Electronic Health Records |
BT | Blockchain technology |
(DLT) | distributed ledger technology |
(TTP) | trusted third-party |
SHA | Secure Hash Algorithm |
DL | Decentralized ledgers |
IoT | Internet of Things |
PRISMA | Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses |
ERIC | Education Resources Information Center |
HIPAA | Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act |
HER | healthcare electronic records |
QSP | query service provider |
CSP | certificate service provider |
ASP | application service provider |
RFID | Real-Time Location Systems |
G | global control |
PC | Personal Computer |
KYC | know your Customer |
ID | identification |
NIDS | network intrusion detection system |
IoMT | Internet of Medical Things |
TUMA | Technology and the Researchers Supporting Program |
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Reference | Description | Advantage | Limitations |
---|---|---|---|
Reegu et al. [28] | Blockchain assists in sharing health-related records among various stakeholders | The study addresses the first objective of the application of blockchain technology in healthcare sector. | It fails to address the challenges associated with blockchain technology in healthcare sector |
Raatta et al. [7] | Application of blockchain and internet of things in healthcare and medical sector | The study addresses the first objective of the application of blockchain technology in healthcare sector. | No mention of challenges associated with blockchain technologies |
Ullah, et al. [29] | When Internet of Things is integrated with blockchain, then it makes the entire drug traceability system to become more reliable and secure | Highlight the importance of blockchain technology in healthcare sector | No mention of challenges associated with blockchain technologies |
Siyal, et al. [30] | Blockchain is applied to develop a kind of atmosphere where two different parties are able to trust one another. | There exist numerous ways through which blockchain can be implemented, though the common approach | No mention of challenges associated with blockchain technologies |
Makridakis, et al. [31] | Blockchain system never poses the capability to discover and eliminate the usage of drugs that have not been authorized. | It shows security concerns that cannot be addressed by blockchain technology | No mention of the wider application of blockchain technology in healthcare industry. |
Abunadi [32] | Blockchain is applied to develop a kind of atmosphere where two different parties are able to trust one another. | Blockchain is more transparent since one change in the transaction process will automatically get reflected for all the relevant users | It fails to address the challenges associated with blockchain technology in healthcare sector |
Mehta [33] | Interoperability within healthcare means exchanging relevant information with each other within the entire blockchain network. | Within the healthcare industry, making sure that there is appropriate interoperability among different institutions may be a great challenge | No mention of the wider application of blockchain technology in healthcare industry. |
Attaran [34] | Lack of trust among the patients and other groups of important stakeholders is also a major issue in the application of blockchain within the healthcare system. | The study addresses the second objective on the challenges of the application of blockchain technology in healthcare sector. | No mention of the wider application of blockchain technology in healthcare industry. |
Reegu [35] | Despite the fact that cloud sharing usually makes it easy and convenient to transfer medical images, subsequently improving and streamlining overall patient care, the major stumbling block to the widespread usage is still fear as well as unease regarding the technology | There are a number of issues and concerns regarding the storage and sharing of relevant medical images | No mention of the wider application of blockchain technology in healthcare industry. |
This work | It seeks to establish methods for preserving security and privacy while implementing blockchain technology in the healthcare sector. It is important for the designers of the blockchain technologies as well as the common users as it outlines the manners in which the security and privacy of the persons involved can be assured even as the technology continues to gain widespread usage and application in healthcare setups. |
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Odeh, A.; Keshta, I.; Al-Haija, Q.A. Analysis of Blockchain in the Healthcare Sector: Application and Issues. Symmetry 2022, 14, 1760. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym14091760
Odeh A, Keshta I, Al-Haija QA. Analysis of Blockchain in the Healthcare Sector: Application and Issues. Symmetry. 2022; 14(9):1760. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym14091760
Chicago/Turabian StyleOdeh, Ammar, Ismail Keshta, and Qasem Abu Al-Haija. 2022. "Analysis of Blockchain in the Healthcare Sector: Application and Issues" Symmetry 14, no. 9: 1760. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym14091760