Blockchain in healthcare: Improving data security and transparency

The use of blockchain within healthcare is an area of growing interest, with the potential to transform healthcare as a whole.1–3 But what exactly is blockchain technology? And how would it work to enhance healthcare? 

Here, we discuss blockchain’s applications in healthcare, paying particular attention to the use of blockchain technology to improve data security and offer more transparency.

Implementing blockchain technology in healthcare

Blockchain in healthcare refers to a distributed ledger system for securely recording and storing transaction-related data.1–3 By creating a network, healthcare providers can implement a system capable of preserving and exchanging patient data through hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, pharmacy firms, and physicians.4

To work effectively, blockchain relies on using advanced cryptography to let everyone in the network see and share information with one another.1 There is no one central storage point — instead, blockchain technology keeps copies of the records with everyone and requires individual verification to add or change any information.1 This mechanism makes it highly secure and allows for an audit trail of all interactions.1

With regard to patient medical records specifically, blockchain has the potential to analyze, identify, and fix discrepancies or mistakes.4 Furthermore, because patient information can be shared easily and securely between hospitals, labs, pharmacies, and clinicians, blockchain technologies have t
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