It is often very difficult to assimilate a large number of new terms created by technology, the internet or social networks. Depending on our involvement and / or interest in these sectors, we pay more or less attention to this news. However, within this broad and dynamic glossary, words of a special nature sometimes appear, terms that experts call the surname “revolution”. Now, let’s focus on one of those ‘special terms’: Blockchain, and its promising applications in the healthcare world. A new reality that promises to change the way we handle our data forever.

A brief introduction to the concept

Blockchain: The information encryption system behind the Bitcoin cryptocurrency. In other words: it’s your main book. This technology makes it possible to transfer digital data with very sophisticated encoding and in a completely secure way. Each file is found in thousands of duplicate nodes: any changes made to that data, in a matter of seconds, are synchronized with the remaining copies leaving a trail. Added to this is another plus, one of the most innovative of our time: this transfer does not require a centralized intermediary to secure information (bank or Paypal).

Applications for the healthcare sector

Many experts believe that the blockchain will change the way we understand business and society. Different lines of research are currently open, but certainly one of the most promising is that of the health world. Some of current and future applications:

• Clinical Data: This technology allows medical records and medical data to be read and shared with complete certainty.
• Patient: Through the block chain, the patient becomes the owner of their health data. You can access it at any time (history, appointments, illnesses, treatments) from any site or device. This 'self-management' allows you to share what you think is appropriate.
• Greater security: Sophisticated encryption would be the definitive solution for many experts to maintain complete privacy in medical records.
• Global health ecosystem: the ambitious test being carried out by the Iryo company in Central Europe is a success; in a few years we will have a global and participatory health ecosystem. The idea is to build the right platform to maintain unified health records. Instead of medical data from multiple providers stored in different formats and scattered across different systems, blockchain-based solutions allow you to securely store data and share your medical history anywhere in the world.
•  Pharmaceutical industry: Blockchain bases its structure on different blocks. They are impossible to change without a trace. Returning to the pharmaceutical sector would ensure health records, clinical trials, cold chain management and temperature control checks (vaccines), or ensure compliance with regulations.
• Fight against counterfeiting: Ten thousand people die every year as a result of taking counterfeit medicines in the world (WHO data). The use of the blockchain would improve the traceability of the drug.
• Accelerated R&D: With a blockchain-based analysis system, researchers can quickly gather the necessary clinical data in a verified manner, as the system stores all patient data in a coherent and accessible infrastructure.