Towards the Uses of Blockchain in Mobile Health Services and Applications: A Survey

TL;DR

This survey reviews how blockchain technology can enhance mobile health services by improving data security, patient control, and decentralization, while discussing open issues and proposing future implementation solutions.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of current blockchain applications in m-Health, identifies open challenges, and proposes conceptual frameworks for future integration.

Findings

Blockchain secures Electronic Health Records effectively.

Patients can gain more control over their health data.

Decentralized healthcare services become more feasible with blockchain.

Abstract

With the advent of Bitcoin and blockchain, the growth and adaptation of cryptographic features and capabilities were quickly extended to new and underexplored areas, such as healthcare. Currently, blockchain is being implemented mainly as a mechanism to secure Electronic Health Records (EHRs). However, new studies have shown that this technology can be a powerful tool in empowering patients to control their own health data, as well for enabling a fool-proof health data history and establishing medical responsibility. With the advent of mobile health (m-Health) sustained on service-oriented architectures, the adaptation of blockchain mechanisms into m-Health applications creates the possibility for a more decentralized and available healthcare service. Hence, this paper presents a review of the current security best practices for m-Health including blockchain technologies in healthcare. Moreover, it discusses and elaborates on identified open-issues and potentialities regarding the uses of Blockchain. Finally, the paper proposes conceptual solutions for future blockchain implementations for m-Health Services and Applications.