Reducing medical certificate and prescription abuse using the Ethereum blockchain

Abstract

The introduction of Bitcoin in 2008 gave birth to DLT. A blockchain is essentially a distributed, immutable digital ledger which uses cryptographic algorithms to securely store transactions of any type. The blockchain network consists of a number of ‘nodes’ which are used to confirm transactions and secure the network in order to ensure immutability. Anyone with internet access can join the blockchain network and view the transactions on the ledger. This technology set in motion a new era, where applications are decentralised with no central authority.

This work proposes the use of the Ethereum blockchain to try and reduce, or even eliminate, medical sick certificate and prescription abuse. Medical sick leave certificates and drug prescriptions are digital signed by the private key of the doctor and the patient and stored on the blockchain. Other stakeholders, such as employers and pharmacists, can access the relative data provided that they have the required permissions. A hybrid architecture is used in order to save on the costs of using the blockchain. Hashed pointers are stored on the blockchain while the actual data resides on a database. The sick leave certificate and prescription life cycle are fully tracked, meaning that prescription data is recorded from when the prescription is issued by the doctor until it is dispensed by the pharmacist. The sick certificate life cycle is fully monitored from when the certificate is created to when it is forwarded to the employer and, eventually, the health authority.