South Korea is gearing towards the use of blockchain technology to handle the health epidemics amid the pandemic.
The Commons Foundation, a non-governmental organization, revealed the plans to use blockchain public services to create epidemiological research systems. These systems will be used to easily store personal information of citizens, and protect health information.
The MicroBitcoin public blockchain network will be used by the organization to secure data storage capabilities. Commons Foundation has chosen the network for its solidity and security, preventing hackers from accessing the content.
Commons Foundation chairman Choi Yong-gwan expressed concerns over the improper storage of personal information of COVID-19 patients in South Korea, which urges the organization to develop the blockchain system.
In addition to enhancing the collection and storage of health and personal data, the system will also help to ‘prevent future viruses’ from impacting the region.
Increase Reliability
MicroBitcoin has a robust system that encrypts all personal records on the public blockchain network. This capability will increase the reliability of the system, banning data forgery at a maximum.
According to Commons Foundation, the application will issue a personal encryption key to authenticate the mobile phone and records of users within a specific city. Experts believe this system can easily track down confirmed COVID-19 cases.
If a person is found to be COVID-19 positive, the healthcare providers can directly enter the encryption key value and provide the information, which cannot be forged to an epidemiologist.
In addition, researchers can schedule a visit with a patient and determine the best value to ensure a quick investigation. This is quicker, effective, and safer, compared to the existing storage system used by healthcare organizations.
Post-Pandemic Era
The development of a blockchain network is not only beneficial for fighting the pandemic as it is now, but also for the post-COVID-19 era.
Commons Foundation chairman Choi said, “It is important to quickly overcome the pandemic, but it will become more important in the post-corona era to protect the individual’s freedom and human rights, while wisely overcoming the pandemic.”
This isn’t the first time South Korea uses blockchain technology for data storage purposes as Busan also launched an identification app that uses blockchain to identify citizen information. Meanwhile, Suseong University also created a blockchain for an AI campus.
Blockchain application patents continuously surge in South Korea this year in wake of the pandemic.
