From blockchain technology to global health equity: can cryptocurrencies finance universal health coverage?

Abstract

Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies could remake global health financing and usher in an era global health equity and universal health coverage. We outline and provide examples for at least four important ways in which this potential disruption of traditional global health funding mechanisms could occur: universal access to financing through direct transactions without third parties; novel new multilateral financing mechanisms; increased security and reduced fraud and corruption; and the opportunity for open markets for healthcare data that drive discovery and innovation. We see these issues as a paramount to the delivery of healthcare worldwide and relevant for payers and providers of healthcare at state, national and global levels; for government and non-governmental organisations; and for global aid organisations, including the WHO, International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group.

A Blockchain-based Service Provider Validation and Verification Framework for Healthcare Virtual Organization

“…Ever since the Alma-Ata world leaders meeting that declared health care as a fundamental human right, many efforts and investments have been channeled through different healthcare systems around the world to ensure the delivery of this right. However, the main goal which was every human is entitle to receive quality care which is yet to be realized and this led to the World Health Organization to call for universal health-care coverage [31]. It is a known fact that most health-care systems are failing care receivers due to lack of stakeholder data safety, unacceptable quality of care, and limited care availability which all point to the need for change in health care.…”

Use of Blockchain in Healthcare: A Systematic Literature Review

“…56% of total spend. It also includes deployment, maintenance and administrative costs [35], [36], [37]. The other major issue is fragmented patient records which increase poor communication among medical staff and a decrease in quality of care.…”

A Supply Chain Model with Blockchain-Enabled Reverse Auction Bidding Process for Transparency and Efficiency

“…These limitations in supply chain can be overcome using Blockchain technology and smart contracts [5]. Currently, the implementation of Blockchain technology in different domains (besides cryptocurrency) [12,21] is an area of research because of its decentralized, open and public nature. Blockchain-driven innovations in the supply chain will have the potential to deliver tremendous business value by increasing supply chain transparency, reducing risk, and improving efficiency and overall supply chain management [22].…”