Chapter 10 - Blockchain-Powered Smart Healthcare System

Abstract

The advent of blockchain derives its roots from the cryptocurrency called bitcoin that emerged during the financial slowdown around 2008. The premise of blockchain is based on a unique technological offering of trust and transparency being offered in a decentralized environment. Since then, researchers and practitioners are thoughtful about multiple applications of blockchain around areas like human resource, marketing, finance, supply chain, and so on. Healthcare is no exception to this situation where a decentralized technology like blockchain acts as a positive catalyst to integrated healthcare by providing data integrity, actionable insights, and mitigating many challenges in the realm of healthcare. Blockchain is considered as a promising solution to resolve data safety and integrity issues while restoring stakeholder consensus. Another blockchain-based solution on similar lines is BlocHIE. Blockchain-based framework is also presented to gather insightful information through predictive techniques embedded in the framework. Ranging from Proof of Disease to Disease Surveillance are some applications presented around healthcare domain through utilization of blockchain technology. Monitoring of drug supply chain through blockchain technology has also been a key interest area especially from the patient point of view. An interesting perspective on cognitive healthcare blockchain demonstrates the usage of automated and intelligent blockchain for healthcare. However, these discrete applications around different arenas of healthcare need to be looked from a holistic point of view. This will help policy makers to shape a smart healthcare system especially in the context of smart cities. The capabilities of blockchain aided with technologies like analytics, Internet of things, artificial intelligence, and so on can help mitigate many challenges and issues with healthcare systems around the world. In this chapter, we present a conceptual model along with research-based implementation instances to define and illustrate a smart healthcare system powered with blockchain. This work provides a holistic perspective in terms of applicability and understanding of blockchain to healthcare and helps in planning and strategizing the usage of blockchain technology.