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Using Blockchain Technology to Collaborate with Pharma and Doctors

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Tags: Emerging tech, It employment, Software

I was sent this proposal by a colleague and it sounds promising. My clinical research institution is thinking of doing a pilot, and they would like me to give my input on the proposal. However, I’m struggling to understand how difficult or feasible blockchain would be from a clinical IT vendor/manger/informatician perspective. The questions I want to ask are:

Proposal: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1er80ymeB6Z4ZILdeXQmTy30eDrkhmW3wJ9VABrIybis/edit?usp=sharing

1. What are the current challenges you face when sharing patient data with other healthcare providers or research institutes?

2. What security and privacy concerns do you have regarding data sharing, and how do you address them currently?

3. How do you envision a blockchain-powered data sharing platform improving the efficiency and security of data exchange?

4. Considering your organization’s IT capabilities, do you think adopting such a platform would be technically viable?

5. What potential obstacles or challenges do you foresee in the implementation and adoption of a blockchain-based data sharing platform?

6. Do you think this solution would be able to fit with the current IT technologies and electronic medical record systems in place (Ie could we build an API so that the platform can interact with EPIC and CERNER for ease of compatibility)

I would be appreciative and grateful of any feedback, experiences, or suggestions you can provide. Your valuable input will help our pilot go a long way.

Topic

Read it. Here such a project would be DOA.

In reply to Using Blockchain Technology to Collaborate with Pharma and Doctors

Data must be protected due to our HIPAA laws.

This project should not be funded.

HIPPA

In reply to Read it. Here such a project would be DOA.

Isn’t there a way to make sure the platform is HIPPA compliant in the first place. I feel like there’s been a push towards health information exchanges but the problem is that there’s been no suitable technological infrastructure

Example

In reply to HIPPA

For example, take a look at this proposal
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6371378/

Remember this is governed by laws.

In reply to Example

A quick rundown at https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hie-faqs.pdf

There’s plenty more but your first document omitted far too much to be considered anything other than something a student looking to apply blockchain to something.

Also missing in a blockchain system is a HARD DELETE. “Data recorded on a blockchain cannot be deleted – as this will mean the data has been destroyed. the blockchain is designed to record the data in tamperproof manner. one should think of the ledger (records of data) as an append only system.”

So once you get bad data into your system, you can’t remove it.

Blockchain is therefore DOA (Dead On Arrival) for this application.

Using Blockchain Technology to Collaborate with Pharma and Doctors

In reply to Using Blockchain Technology to Collaborate with Pharma and Doctors

Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize collaboration in the pharmaceutical industry and improve communication between doctors and other healthcare professionals. Here are some ways in which blockchain can be utilized for such collaboration:

Secure Data Sharing: Blockchain’s distributed and immutable ledger allows for secure and transparent data sharing among different stakeholders, such as pharmaceutical companies, doctors, hospitals, and research institutions. Patient data, clinical trial results, drug efficacy, and adverse reactions can be securely recorded and shared, ensuring data integrity and reducing the risk of tampering or unauthorized access.

Clinical Trial Management: Blockchain can streamline the process of managing clinical trials. Smart contracts can be used to automate tasks such as participant recruitment, consent management, data collection, and incentive distribution. This would make the trials more efficient, reduce administrative burdens, and enhance transparency.

Drug Supply Chain Management: Blockchain can be employed to track the entire supply chain of pharmaceuticals, from raw materials to manufacturing, distribution, and final delivery to patients. This level of transparency can help prevent counterfeit drugs, ensure product authenticity, and address drug shortages promptly.

Intellectual Property Protection: Pharmaceutical companies invest significant resources in research and development. Blockchain’s tamper-proof nature can help protect intellectual property rights by recording patent filings, research findings, and innovations securely.

Medical Credentialing and Licensing: For doctors and healthcare providers, blockchain can offer a decentralized and verifiable system for medical credentialing and licensing. This could streamline the process of verifying qualifications and certifications, making it easier for healthcare professionals to work across different jurisdictions.

Data Privacy and Consent Management: With blockchain, patients can have more control over their health data. They can grant specific access rights to doctors and researchers while keeping the rest of their data private. This can foster greater trust between patients and healthcare providers.

It’s dead on arrival. No way to delete data!

In reply to Using Blockchain Technology to Collaborate with Pharma and Doctors

What is missing in a blockchain system is a HARD DELETE. “Data recorded on a blockchain cannot be deleted – as this will mean the data has been destroyed. the blockchain is designed to record the data in tamperproof manner. one should think of the ledger (records of data) as an append only system.”

So once you get bad data into your system, you can’t remove it.

Blockchain is therefore DOA (Dead On Arrival) for this application.

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