IIT Madras develops a blockchain based healthcare information system

The Indian Institute of Technology(IIT), Madras researchers have developed ‘BlockTrack’, a first-of-its-kind blockchain-based secure medical data and information exchange system for a mobile phone-based application. This system is currently being field-tested at IIT Madras Institute Hospital.

The project has been undertaken with the CSR support from Infosys originating during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic last year. BlockTrack aims to securely digitise healthcare information systems, while ensuring the protection of sensitive personal information and medical records by decentralising the control and ownership of patient data, through a blockchain-based innovation. This innovation is now protected through a provisional IP filed with the Indian Patent Office.

The Android version of the application has been developed separately for both patients and doctors. BlockTrack’s algorithm generates identification codes for users and ensures uniqueness across boundaries with very little chance for duplication. It opens up the promise of universal and transferable healthcare information management with a strong emphasis on data privacy and tracking the spread of infectious diseases across geographies.

BlockTrack allows the interoperability of systems from multiple hospitals, institutes, and healthcare organisations. It integrates medical supply chain management and proactive tracking of the spread of contagious infections. The patient can choose to visit any healthcare facility which is on BlockTrack’s blockchain network without having any concerns about duplication of records or re-registrations. 

BlockTrack is developed by a team led by Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal, Lead Faculty for Remote Diagnostics, Center for Nondestructive Evaluation (CNDE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras.

 Highlighting the unique aspects of this project, Prof. Prabhu said, “BlockTrack is an exciting project that depicts engineering innovations that have a disruptive potential to transform multiple domains. This is one of the first implementations of blockchain technology for securing healthcare data management systems and we see an immense impact this approach can make in securely digitising and maintaining unique patient records across the country and the world eventually.”