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New Normal, Digital Transformation, Industry 4.0
Trust | Transparency | Traceability
Medical Diagnostic Report and Blockchain
5 July 2021 | Blockchain, Emerging Tech, Fintech, Retail Bank, Supply Chain, Traceability
The lab diagnostics industry plays a significant role in the HealthCare segment. Along with its core objective of diagnosis, the sector also offers additional benefits: employment generation, availability of specialised tests, improved access, and technological advancements. The four main Ps (Policymaker, Provider, Payer and Patients) are the stakeholders in this
- Policymakers are the Local and Central Government bodies who defines and monitors the system of healthcare
- Providers are the Doctors, Clinics, Hospitals, Diagnostic centres, and Medical laboratories that create, retrieve, update, delete a record, and ask for consent,
- Payers are the individual patients, Insurance companies and health benefit schemes by central and state Government
- Patients read or preview or monitor their health record at any given, and also gives consent to the doctor
Challenges on Duplication/Fudged Documents are multifold; in March-April 2021, as per a report by Check Point Research, claims that numerous forged negative covid test results and fake vaccine certificates offered across various forums. These counterfeit documents reportedly offered for as low as Rs 1800 to people seeking to board flights, cross borders, attend events, or start new jobs.
There are around 100,000-
110,000 total laboratories in India, of which top diagnostic centres in India provide about 3500-4000 types of tests. The authenticity of each of the test reports delivery formats matters and are carried out differently, such as hospital labs, standalone labs, national chains, regional chains. And for the time being, the market is dominated by standalone centres. The following events/data points are involved when a specialised test prescribed to a patient in a particular region (which could be updated/ verified) across a Blockchain platform:
- I. Sample collection done at collection centres
- II. Tests assigned to reference labs
- III. Sample shipped to reference labs for specialised tests
- IV. Sample processing at reference labs
- V. Report delivery to the patient
In the United States, New York has started using blockchain technology and issuing vaccination passes called ‘Excelsior pass’, allowing citizens to access public spaces, exhibition centres, and community parks. Meanwhile, Estonia is also using blockchain-based digital passports for its immunised citizens. Vaccine or Immunity certificates and tests results have a significant role in opening up the economy and return of the workforce. In India, too, the Maharashtra government is exploring vaccine passports for citizens of Mumbai using blockchain technology.
Importance of Blockchain-enabled QR code: The world needs to restore some normalcy in these turbulent times. Therefore, there is a need to build trust in vaccine certificates or testing reports, whether it’s a piece of paper, a secure card, or the inclusion of a QR code. There is a need for blockchain and digital ledger technologies (DLT) at the forefront of every vaccine verification and Covid-19 testing system framework. Adequately done, digital ledgers cannot be falsified and can reliably prove the original status of a particular person. Accessibility with various stakeholders viz Government, transportation, and healthcare departments will lead to a worldwide accessible framework that should encapsulate the following:
- credential is being presented by the person to whom it was issued
- credential is authentic
- credential has not been revoked
Conclusion: TRST01 is committed to playing a fundamental role in balancing the dual challenges of reopening/resuming to normalcy while managing the risks of the authenticity of the various test or report related documents. By providing a trusted credential, there can be an assurance of the proper documentation needed to move freely around the world while verifying that trusted status easy without divulging personal information. That is a revolutionary step forward towards the process of Trust, Transparency and Traceability in the Healthcare sector.
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