Blockchain healthcare and life sciences solutions

Overview

Helping you build trust in our healthcare system

Even before the rise of COVID-19, the healthcare and life sciences industries faced significant issues, including interoperability, privacy and supply chain traceability. Another major challenge is that proprietary, electronic health record systems — from more than 700 vendors — routinely don’t talk to each other.¹ And in the U.S. alone, we saw 1,750 incidents of drug counterfeiting in 2018.²

As the pandemic continues, healthcare and the life sciences face new challenges, including adapting supply chains to deliver protective equipment and rapidly developing treatments, tests and vaccines. Meanwhile, healthcare professionals are grappling with how to manage consent and keep individual health data secure as they look to leverage health data to safely re-open for business.

Blockchain has already demonstrated its value in healthcare and the life sciences by enabling trust and collaboration, and will continue to be at the forefront of addressing ever more challenges.

Learn about revolutionary solutions for healthcare

Benefits

Assure data integrity across multiple parties

As organizations seek to confirm the health status of their customers and employees, blockchain networks help assure data integrity by storing an immutable, single version of the truth. Network participants can collaborate with confidence as they exchange information while controlling data access.

Achieve full traceability

As pharmaceutical products move through the supply chain, they are recorded on a blockchain. That audit trail means an item can be traced back to its origin, or out to the receiving pharmacy or retailer. This helps reduce counterfeiting and manufacturers can locate a recalled product in seconds so they can respond rapidly.

Gain new operational efficiencies

From resolving disputes to triggering next steps in supply chain transactions, to moving medical images through review, smart contracts can automate processes for increased speed and efficiency. Smart contracts automatically take action when established conditions are met.

140+

novel coronavirus vaccines are under development worldwide.

states are expediting recertification so retired healthcare providers can return to work.

85%

of people surveyed would share a COVID-19 diagnosis with their employer in order to get back to work more quickly.

Solutions for healthcare

Verify health credentials

Built on IBM Blockchain technology, this solution is designed to enable organizations to verify health credentials in a privacy-preserving way — and individuals can manage their information through an encrypted digital wallet on their smartphone.

Find new suppliers of critical goods

Trust Your Supplier is a blockchain-enabled, trusted source of supplier information and digital identity that reduces risk while simplifying and accelerating supplier onboarding and supplier management.

Safeguard the efficacy of medications

Powered by Blockchain Transparent Supply, this blockchain-based platform for tracking temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals through the supply chain provides trusted, reliable and accurate data across multiple parties.

Solutions for life sciences

Speed medication recall notifications

KPMG, Merck, Walmart and IBM joined forces in an FDA pilot for the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). The pilot successfully demonstrated a blockchain product traceability solution that cut the medication recall notification process from days to seconds. (2.9 MB)

Bring trust and transparency to clinical trials

Boehringer Ingelheim and IBM are exploring the use of blockchain technology in a clinical trial setting. The goal is to increase trust and transparency among all stakeholders, especially when it comes to patient consent and data management.

Vaccine distribution network on blockchain

Build trust in new vaccines from inception to injection with a network powered by IBM Blockchain. Monitor vaccine distribution at every step to help assure manufacturers, distributers, dispensers and the public.

Blockchain consulting and services

Coworkers writing on colored sticky notes attached to an office window

You need more than a great idea to achieve blockchain success. Learn how you can tap into outcome-driven network design principles to enable transformation of supply chains.

Resources

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Explore blockchain technology

Wondering what blockchain really is and how it can help? Spend a few minutes with us and learn about distributed ledger technology, immutable records and how it all works with this set of “Blockchain 101” resources.

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Blockchain in healthcare

Blockchain is rapidly unlocking value across the healthcare industry. Read about how we assist healthcare in articles authored by IBM clients, and healthcare industry and technical experts.

Doctor showing medical forms to a patient

Rethinking management of patient consent

In a complex healthcare system, seamless transitions in care are dependent upon the ability to access and share patient data. Healthcare payers can improve member experience and create competitive advantage using blockchain to manage consent.

IBM Watson Health

IBM is helping organizations across the healthcare industry leverage data, technology — including blockchain — and expertise to reach their goals of becoming more efficient, resilient and robust.

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Delivering better insights for better health

Discover compelling client stories, solutions and resources from the healthcare industry.

Next steps

Learn how to get started

No matter where you are on your blockchain journey, IBM can help you take the right next step. Learn how you can get started with IBM Blockchain.

Get started with blockchain

Blockchain consulting and services

Leverage industry leading expertise and find a shorter path to innovation. Benefit from joining established networks or build and scale your own along side experts.

Explore blockchain consulting and services

Connect with an expert

Contact a representative and get help with questions on how to start you blockchain journey.

Contact an IBM representative

Blockchain use cases

Be inspired by how innovators are transforming their businesses through use cases built on the IBM Blockchain Platform.

Explore blockchain use cases

Citations

¹Kaiser Health News: Death By 1,000 Clicks (link resides outside of ibm.com)

²Statista: Counterfeit incidents concerning pharmaceuticals worldwide (link resides outside of ibm.com)