Across the globe effective healthcare management and its delivery is of
prime concern. Governments generate and maintain infrastructure for healthcare and its
facilities ensuring every citizen to receive the basic and advanced treatments. There
have been significant advances with regard to delivery of healthcare to populations,
irrespective of their economic status. Handling and security of medical records and data
belonging to patient is a major concern for hospital managements. Privacy of patient’s
personal information and statistics are important but can be scattered and fragmented
leading to ineffective health service and as malpractice in delivery. The Constitution of
India, 1950 contains various fundamental rights for its citizens and foreigners. As per
Article 21, the right to life and personal liberty is considered as one of the fundamental
right entitled to every citizen without discrimination on basis of religion, race, socioeconomic conditions. In addition, the right to health and medical care also falls under
Article 21 via judicial pronouncement. Good health is significant for all and include
factors like- life-style, food habits, hygiene, sanitation and healthcare facilities etc.
Explanation of these factors are relevant to understand the core concept of patient’s
privacy for medical and healthcare. Relevancy of blockchain technology in patient’s
privacy has become much significant because hospital’s system of record keeping may
be vulnerable to cyber-attacks and frauds. Thus, introduction of blockchain technology
in hospitals ensures safety and security of data and medical records. The access to data
is available to patient, the network members and the hospital management to timely
update and provide availability whenever required. To achieve this aim, there is a need
of legal framework which intends to secure medical records and statistics. This article
aims to discuss relevancy of blockchain technology in securing patient’s privacy with
regard to hospital’s healthcare delivery and its management.
Methodology
Blockchain technology is helpful in securing and handling patient data where in the
information stored is impossible to theft, hack or changed. Timely healthcare delivery to all is the need of hour and blockchain technology can provide easy access to secure
and comprehensive data and patient’s medical record. This article shall examine and
analyses various international documents, national provisions, hospital management,
books, legislations, reports, articles concerning to blockchain technology and patient’s
privacy.
Keywords: Big Data Analytics, Blockchain Technology, Patient Privacy, Hospital Management, Legal Provisions.
