Blockchain-enabled Interoperability in Healthcare
Abstract
With the exponential growth of health data, connecting different fragmented data sources to
create a universal patient-based health record has been a long-established challenge in
healthcare. Blockchain presents a new model for the management of data access and
exchange in a secure decentralised way. This research paper examines the potential of
blockchain-enabled solutions to address the challenge of health data interoperability from a
socio-technical perspective. Empirical findings of the ethnographic study are based on the
current scene of blockchain in healthcare and a case study of a recent implementation in
London. The discussion draws on the organisational, social, and political aspects of
blockchain as a trust-less model to democratise health data and empower the patient agency
to achieve patient-centred care and interoperability.