How Blockchain technology can help mankind at the event of another pandemic like COVID-19.

Introduction.

Most recently, the world was brought to a still by a pandemic, known as; Corona Virus or COVID-19. While humans searched for its cure, government of various countries declared lockdown. International flights were suspended for awhile. Above all, there was panic as to if the the world would become same again.

Hospitals in some countries were overflowing with COVID-19 patients.
Scientists and researchers world over swong into action, researching for both treatment and vaccines. While the rest of us remained indoors browsing the internet and shuffling from one news channel to another with high hopes for a good new on a daily.

From days to weeks and to months, banks, shops and major markets were shut down, only foodstuffs markets were allowed to operate skeletally. Scarcely would you see people move from one state to the other because their was restrictions on movement, which is to check the spread of the virus.

Social distancing, use of face masks, and hand sanitizers were adviced.

How Blockchain technology can help during a pandemic like COVID-19.

Below are a number of ways Blockchain technology can assist in times of global health situations like COVID-19.

a. Blockchain technology can help with data integrity and verification :-

A pandemic like COVID-19 is a global problem which involved large swatches of data from different labs accross the world. It may be very difficult tracking, verify and managing these data. Especially, when the researchers are working very hard and fast to find solutions to the global problem.

Because it have been proven that Blockchain can help with the with verification and integrity of data, during the last pandemic, the world health organization (WHO) had collaborated with IBM and Oracle to form a Blockchain consortium to ultilize MiPasa. MiPasa is a hyperledger platform, that enables data analysis and tracking.

Hashlog is another application ultilizing Blockchain technology. It can be used for data verification at the event of COVID-19 related pandemics. It is a Blockchain visualization tool for data collection to process and share public data sorounding everything around the spread of the virus.

b. Blockchain can helps to process insurance claims :-

Blockchain technology can help speed up rate of claims processing, even as it maintains proper records of each claim.

c. Medical research :-

If the massive computing abilities of Blockchain, which solves complex mathematical problems is brought into medical research, it will quickly solve the puzzle hence, availing the world a cure and vaccine in good time.

d. Can help the medical Supply chain :-

During the COVID-19 outbreak, medical organizations across the world had serious challenge of much needed supplies of materials which includes protective equipments and ventilators. Blockchain technology can solve this seamlessly.

Source

e. It can help to promote the integrity of drugs supply chain :-

Because of the increasing number of counterfeit drugs in circulation today, many pharmaceutical companies have continued to make losses that runs into billions. A Forbes source (referenced below) have disclossed that about 30% of drugs sold in developing countries are not original.
Blockchain technology can help the sector, to ensure that good quality product are distributed accordingly, restoring confidence in suppliers.

f. Blockchain technology can facilitate cheaper and more seamless payment across the border :-

Before now, sending money beyond national borders was very slow and expensive. In a times of global health crisis, Blockchain technology can offer the fastest means of funds transfer accross the boarder and at a more rediuced rate too.

g. Cyber security and IoT

Blockchain can help solve the problem of breaches, which in the past had caused the death of many patients. A very large percentage of this (43%) is caused by insider factors while 27% because of hacking.
Blockchain technology can solve this problem by bridging the gaps of device data interoperability even as it ensures both security, privacy and reliability.

h. E-learning:-

Because of the high transmission rate of COVID-19, governments accross the world had advised that people stay indoors and maintain social distancing amongst other things, hence school and other public places were shut down. This means that students stopped going to school.
Blockchain therefore can help student learn online.

i. Donation tracking:-

During the pandemic, well meaning people and organizations across the world donated various items to support those that needed help especially, in developing countries. Blockchain technology would help ensure that all funds, food items, clothing, medicine or medical equipments donated are received by the intended recipients.
This will help build trust and encourage the donors to do more.

j. Management of medical records:-

Blockchain can help improve the way medical records of patients are managed. This is possible by giving the patients greater percentage of control over their medical data, which they can release at will to any hospital of interest.

Conclusion.

I believe I have been able to establish that Blockchain technology has the potentials to assist at the event of an outbreak like COVID-19. So also, does it have the potentials to contribute to most aspects of human existence.

However, for Blockchain technology play any role during a global health crisis, there must be an agreement between all the leading factors, which may include; Government, healthcare bodies or institutions and technology providers. This will ensure accessibility, accuracy and security of data.

Perhaps, Blockchain technology has it's challenges, like compliance with regulatory bodies, scalability and interoperability.

Reference: https://www.forbes.com/sites/reenitadas/2017/05/08/does-blockchain-have-a-place-in-healthcare/amp/

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