Picture this: in May 2017, an ordinary morning turns into a nightmare for the UK’s NHS (National Health Service). A computer virus, nicknamed WannaCry, infiltrates the public health service’s IT systems, spreading like wildfire. Within hours, dozens of hospitals and clinics across the country are paralyzed. Doctors could no longer access patients’ medical records, operations were cancelled, and thousands of vital appointments were postponed.

This is not just a technical failure, it’s a humanitarian crisis. Patients awaiting urgent treatment are left in uncertainty, and medical staff are powerless in the face of a system blocked by digital ransomware. This incident has laid bare a disturbing truth: despite being advanced, our healthcare systems are vulnerable to ever more sophisticated cyberattacks. What if blockchain had been there to prevent this chaos? This reflection leads us to a crucial debate: are current solutions sufficient to protect healthcare data, or should we consider alternatives like blockchain to ensure foolproof security?

How Blockchain is Revolutionizing Healthcare Data Security

The healthcare sector faces numerous cyber-attacks: malware attacks that lead to identity theft and data manipulation by unauthorized entities. The costs associated with data breaches in the healthcare sector have risen by 53.3% since 2020, with an average cost of $10.93 million in 2023 (IBM Security, Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023). To solve this problem, it is necessary to change the standard cybersecurity platform for blockchain-based security, which is one of the best solutions against cyberattacks.

“Global leaders recognize the need for change in our current healthcare system, as it lacks the access, affordability and inclusivity that patients need. The convergence of many emerging innovations, such as blockchain and machine learning, enables us to approach old problems in new ways. This opens up the possibility for improved patient and provider experiences, new business models, and ultimately, a sustainable and value-based healthcare system,” said Heather Leigh Flannery, CEO of ConsenSys Health. “At ConsenSys Health, our goal is to partner and innovate with public and private entities committed to positively transforming healthcare and life sciences.”

Source: IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023

With its decentralized structure and ability to create unbreakable registers, blockchain technology is positioning itself as a powerful response to the challenges of healthcare data security. By 2024, many healthcare systems across the globe are integrating blockchain to establish secure, immutable records of patient data. Research published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research in 2023 shows that the use of blockchain in healthcare systems reduces the risk of data falsification by 97% compared with traditional methods. In addition, the study points out that blockchain improves traceability of access, enhancing transparency and patient trust.

Securing Electronic Medical Records (EMR)

Electronic medical records (EMRs) are central to modern healthcare, but they also represent a key target for cybercriminals. In 2022, over 42 million medical records were compromised in the US due to data breaches. Blockchain offers a radically different solution by securing this sensitive information thanks to its decentralized, immutable storage system. Each entry in a blockchain-based EMR is time-stamped and cryptographically linked to the previous one, forming an unalterable chain. This means that once a piece of data is recorded, it cannot be modified or deleted without leaving a trace, thus guaranteeing the integrity of medical information.

Developed by MIT, MedRec is an example of how blockchain can be used to secure medical records. This technology enables patients to control access to their information while ensuring its integrity. An internal study at MIT found that MedRec reduced administrative costs by 20% by automating medical record processes.

Clinical Data and Medical Research Management

In addition to EMRs, blockchain can also play a crucial role in clinical data management and medical research. Medical research relies on access to reliable, verifiable data, often shared between several institutions around the world. However, falsification or mismanagement of this data can lead to biased and even dangerous research results. Blockchain can guarantee the transparency and verifiability of clinical data, by recording every stage of a study or clinical trial on a public or private register, accessible only to authorized parties. For example, the European Union-funded My Health My Data (MHMD) project uses blockchain to enable patients to share their data with researchers, while ensuring that this data remains anonymized and protected from tampering.

JJoe Lubin, founder of ConsenSys and co-creator of Ethereum, said:  “Technology for the healthcare industry demands the foundational security, identity and efficiency that blockchain technology provides, along with unique privacy and ethical considerations that deserve singular focus.”

Protection against drug counterfeiting

Another area where blockchain shows huge potential is in the fight against counterfeit medicines, a global problem that costs billions of dollars and puts patients’ lives at risk. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 10% of medicines in developing countries are counterfeit or substandard. Blockchain can track every step of the drug supply chain, from manufacture to delivery, ensuring that every product is authentic and has not been tampered with.

San Francisco-based Chronicled uses blockchain to track the provenance of medicines, ensuring that each batch is authentic and certified by the relevant authorities. The system enables pharmacies, hospitals, and patients to verify the authenticity of medicines by simply scanning a code, reducing the risk of using counterfeit products.