ECAI 2018 - International Conference – 10th Edition

Electronics, Computers and Artificial Intelligence

28 June -30 June, 2018, Iasi, ROMÂNIA

Blockchain Technology Applied in Health

The Study of Blockchain Application in the Health System (II)

Andrei Cirstea Florentina Magda Enescu Nicu Bizon

University of Pitesti Pitești, University of Pitesti Pitești, University of Pitesti Pitești,
România România România
cirsteapandrei@gmail.com enescu_flor@yahoo.com nicu.bizon@upit.ro

Cosmin Stirbu Valeriu Manuel Ionescu

University of Pitesti Pitești, University of Pitesti Pitești,
România România
cosmin.stirbu@upit.ro valeriu.ionescu@upit.ro

Abstract – This paper will introduce a minimal
introduction to blockchain technology, followed by a
medical application (MedBlocks). The application is
based on this technology, with the purpose to make
medical field more efficient. Blockchain technology has
the potential to revolutionize both medicine and any
other field for system decentralization. This can change
the whole world through efficiency and secure way to
act. The objective of this paper is to show the
extraordinary potential of this technology and how it
will fundamentally change all aspects of receiving,
transmitting and securing of information.
Keywords - blockchain, hash, peer-to-peer, DDBMS,
decentralization, encryption, decryption, miner,
MedBlocks
I. INTRODUCTION
We all witnessed a global phenomenon that slowly
recovered the modern monetary world. This
phenomenon occurred with Satoshi Nakamoto (whose
true identity is still unknown) in 2008 with the launch
of the Bitcoin: A Peer Electronic Cash System, which
is a purely peer-to-peer version of electronic cash. A
year later, in 2009, the bitcoin appeared in the
blockchain structure, although it did not have an initial
success (in 2009, no one could be found willing to
offer the $ 50 "colossal" amount in exchange for
10,000 BTC, in 2010 1 BTC was listed at $ 0.003). It
has grown exponentially and triggered a real
technological revolution, not just by the fact that 1
BTC in a period (December 15, 2017) had reached the
"stratosphere" at $ 17,900, [1], [2], but also through its
ingenious operation.
With this boom, more and more developers have
realized the enormous potential of this "trust" scheme
(if we can call it that) and today the blockchain is
involved (or will be involved) in all areas.
This application is based on a simple idea:
building a health system in which the relationship
between the patient and the doctor is one of
maximum trust, and the diagnostics are given
depending on the effectiveness of the treatment. [3],
[4], [5]

Figure 1 The data management system

978-1-5386-4901-5/18/$31.00 ©2018 IEEE

 BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY CONCEPT
A. Define and use
Blockchain can be defined, as can be deduced from
the name, as a chain of interconnected blocks. This
concept consists of storing data in blocks, and each
block is linked by a digital fingerprint (hash). Hash is a
kind of encrypted code that is used to validate data that
can be of any kind. [6]
All blocks (data) are then stored on a multitude of
places using a distributed database management system
(DDBMS). [7], [8] Figure 1.
This is basically a centralized software system that
manages multiple data in different locations as a whole
and is also used to perform the following tasks:
• Used to create, recover, update, and delete
distributed databases;
• Synchronizes the database periodically and
provides access mechanisms to make the
distribution transparent to users;
• Fortify that modified data on any site is
universally updated;
• Designed for heterogeneous database
platforms;
• Maintain the confidentiality and integrity of
database data.
B. Data processing
For the system to be functional, the storage data
needs to be decrypted, checked, and encrypted again.
All this endurance work is done by a group of
computers / servers that through a specific software
program processes the system data. The program keeps
the interface between its graphics card or processor and
system data. It actually trades its processing power
(depending on the case, it can use from 1% of the
processing power of the so-called miner up to 100% of
its power) in return for some advantages.
II. APPLICATION PRESENTATION
First, MedBlocks, was thought to be a step in the
evolution of medicine and the Internet itself.
MedBlocks wants to be a network where everyone can
contribute to major changes in the overall medical
system's efficiency.
Anyone can offer experience with their treatments,
illnesses, allergies, operations, and can also give a huge
help to the system by collecting data (otherwise
extremely expensive considering only the time
allocated) extremely easy and accessible to doctors and
researchers, but also for drugstores. [9], [10], [11]
A. Working Principle
• The operating principle is simple to be used
by a wide range of users.
• Step 1: A patient will access the platform,
from any device and sign in.
• Step 2: Each patient will complete the medical
history on our database. The database
containing patient data files consists of fields
containing information, depending on the
request / question / field.
• Step 3: The user who inserts a medical file
will, upon completion, activate the finish
button. The data is automatically verified,
encrypted and stored, and the user as a reward
will periodically receive the latest treatment
• information, find out the latest news about the
most effective drugs and latest treatment
methods from clinics, research centers,
international conferences, factories drugs.
• Step 4: After activating the finish button, the
user is directed to a contract page in which he
can provide selective visibility. Check the
people / categories of staff who can access the
information in the datasheet: doctors,
researchers, pharmacists, close people, family
members. In this way, the user is extremely
selective regarding the privacy of personal
data.
• Step 5 (optional): If a user has questions or
concerns, he may permanently activate the
forum heading and consult with industry
specialists.
Once all the above steps have been completed, the
data sheet will be loaded automatically into the
database and will be instantly visible to all users who
has permission.
B. Data Access
Physicians, researchers, laboratories,
pharmaceutical factories, other users will have access
to data through a special hash that Once all the above
steps verification of the person / group identity using
they diploma accreditation.
Once logged into the database each authorized
person can access a multitude of data from patients
such as: age; height; weight; arrangement of organ
donation; type of blood; run; operate suffered;
ruptures, spills, sprains; the frequency of visits to the
doctor per year; the frequency of medical problems per
year; the disease suffered; commonly used drugs;
medications that showed yield; medicines that did not
show performance; drugs that have given adverse
effects; and so on Figure 2 [12], [13], [14].
 Figure 4 User Interface
Figure 2 Principle of operation

C. The method of payment of services B. Explain in general the code to be carried

out for the platform
In exchange for these data, the beneficiaries will
also end up with a virtual contract with the patients Before this platform can be made it is useful to
(users) that they are committed to offering various form a block figure 5.
benefits to those who support the system (miners).

Miners in exchange for their processing power will

receive payment in cryptocurrencies, these
cryptocurrencies will be used to pay for various
services (treatments, medications, analyzes, therapy,
dental problems, etc.). [15]

Example of statistic data that can be make using our

platform Figure 3:

Figure 5. The creation of a block

• Now we are going to make a blockchain

(figure 6):

Figure 3 Statistical data

III. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

This section describes Accelerating the
development of new effective method how a part of
the program and the user platform interface were
developed.

A. User Interface
At the basis of the user interface, there were two
ideas: simplicity and clarity for data collection. Figure 6 The creation of a blockchain

Site was made using the WIX platform Figure 4 • For security we will use diverse method of
encryption like SHA-2, SHA-3
 • The algorithm for mining will be similar
with the one in the Figure 7:
Figure 7 Mining Method
• For the implementation of block and
blockchain algorithm it going to look very
similar with the one below (figure 8):
Figure 8 Implementation of block and blockchain
CONCLUSION
It is beneficial that in the future to reach to use such
technology that comes in support of both the patient,
but also of doctors, researchers who want to have
access to the medical records of the patients, of all
those who wish to obtain information about the
evolution, treatment and the results of the post-
treatment achieved by the various patients, the
pharmaceutical industry and last but not least, the
medical system is no longer dependent on a certain
entity.
The main advantages of using the blockchain
technology are as follows:
• The disappearance of ineffective medicines;
• Improvement of common and efficient traps
due to market predictability in terms of
efficiency;
• Removing ineffective treatments;
• Choosing for cheaper medications (in some
cases);
• Public information on diseases across
different categories (for example diabetes by
age);
• Push in a more accelerated way the
development of new effective methods;
• Informing the masses about various current
medical problems (by sending various
electronic leaflets);
• Removing counterfeit medicines; Decrease
of misdiagnosis;
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[5] https://www.athenahealth.com/insight/blockchain-meet-
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[6] https://www.coindesk.com/bitcoin-hash-functions- explained/
[7] https://www.coindesk.com/information/how-bitcoin- mining-
works/’
[8] https://searchsqlserver.techtarget.com/definition/database-
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