Blockchain Applications in Healthcare. Blockchain-based solution for the medical prescription system in Portugal

Rodrigo Varela Alves da Silva Salgueiro

Key information

Authors:

Rodrigo Varela Alves da Silva Salgueiro (Rodrigo Varela Alves da Silva Salgueiro)

Supervisors:

António Miguel Areias Dias Amaral (António Miguel Areias Dias Amaral)

Published in

01/25/2021

Abstract

Bitcoin was the first real world blockchain application. Blockchain is a decentralized network that rules out the need for a central authority, it is a distributed ledger system. This peer-to-peer network allows to manage transactions through time stamped blocks. Blockchain-based solutions have been increasingly useful in multiple domains throughout industries. One of the most prominent sectors in the use of this technology is Healthcare. Proposals based on this technology are beginning to appear offering a solution to the health system current problems. This thesis starts by approaching, in an exploratory way, five health domains where blockchain solutions can have significant impact, namely: Medicines Supply- chain, Patient data, Clinical research, Health insurance and Medical prescriptions. After understanding the impact that blockchain technology has on the aforementioned areas, one focused the analysis on the case of medical prescriptions. In fact, medical prescription, stood out as the domain and problem that needs urgent solution. In order to narrow down the analysis to a specific case, this thesis focus on the opioid crisis to understand the interplay between blockchain and medical prescription tracking system in Portugal, hence bringing new insight on technological change in this specific field at the national level. After mapping the current system, eight flaws where identified. The potential of blockchain technology to improve the detected flaws was analyzed by blockchain experts. A blockchain-based solution architecture was presented to them and also analyzed. It was clear to conclude that blockchain technology can improve the medical prescription system.