A Systematic Literature Review: Application, Challenges and Technology of Blockchain in Healthcare

Abstract

Blockchain can be viewed like a ledger system that manages data and their transactions using time stamped blocks through cryptography and works in a decentralized manner over the computer network. Although blockchain was originally designed for the cryptocurrency, its applications have been extended to other domains like medicine, health record, transportation agriculture and lots more. In this study, a systematic literature review regarding Blockchain technology in healthcare was conducted, with the objective of identifying and discussing the challenges, applications and technology used in the healthcare sector. The authors have highlighted Blockchain’s potential for the healthcare sector, from the review, it can be depicted that healthcare sector is faced with a lot of challenges like the issue of security and privacy of data, managing storage capacity, interoperability, standardization and social challenges. It is the authors belief that this systematic literature review will go a long way in assisting new researchers in this domain of study.