BLOCKCHAIN

FOR HEALTH INFORMATION AND

MEDICAL RECORD SYSTEMS
Enhancing Healthcare Data Security And
Accessibility
B y S u n d a y A d a m s Te g w i
INTRODUCTION
The blockchain technology is a decentralized and
distributed ledger system that enables the secure recording,
storage, and management of data across a network of
computers.

It is mostly associated with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin

and Ethereum, but is application extend far beyond digital
currencies.
CONT’N
CONT’N
In recent years, blockchain technology has emerged as a
promising solution to address critical challenges in the
health sector, particularly in the management of health
information and medical records.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
In many parts of Africa, comprehensive and easily
accessible health records are scarce, mainly because they are
not in digital format. This results in the loss and
fragmentation of patient data, challenges in tracking tests
and treatments, and limitations in monitoring health
outcomes. Moreover, it presents significant barriers to
accessing vital data for research.
WHAT IS A BLOCKCHAIN
Blockchain technology is a decentralized and distributed
digital ledger system that securely records and verifies
transactions across a network of computers.

It is an advanced database mechanism that operates

through a chain of interconnected blocks, making data
immutable, transparent, and resistant to tampering.
WHY BLOCKCHAIN
HOW?
1. Digitization: converting paper records into digital format.

2. Data Structuring: organizing data fields in a consistent

format for easy accessibility and understandability.

3. Data Encryption: protecting data using encryption

techniques, making it unreadable without correct
decryption key.
CONT’N
CONT’N
4. Hashing: for integrity verification, each data is assigned a
unique cryptographic hash. A hash is a fixed-size string of
character generated from the record’s data.

5. Smart contracts: in the context of medical records, they

define rules for who can access and modify the data.

6. Uploading to Blockchain: encrypted medical records with

their hashes are stored on the blockchain
IMPLEMENTATION
CHALLENGES
While offering numerous benefits, there are a few
challenges to note during implementation:
Scalability

User adoption

Costs

Network consensus

Adherence to best practices; and the rest

SUMMARY
The presentation has highlighted the transformative
potential of blockchain technology in the healthcare sector,
specifically focusing on its role in improving health
information and medical records.
CONCLUSION
Blockchain possesses a great promise for revolutionizing
healthcare by addressing critical challenges related to data
security, privacy, etc.

We anticipate a future where patients have greater agency

over their health data, and the healthcare providers can offer
more efficient and secure service
CONCLUSION
 THANKS
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