Kali Durgampudi, the CTO for healthcare payments firm Zelis, reportedly shared a belief that blockchain utilization is crucial for providing protection for patients’ sensitive data against cybercriminals.

Specifically, during her speech with Health IT News, Durgampudi reportedly revealed that a few of the most major problems in healthcare are privacy and data security, with the sphere putting in efforts to carry out digitization for its “archaic paper-based processes.”

Durgampudi reportedly argued that blockchain has what it takes to bring solutions to these matters, as he emphasized how important it is to leverage an “impenetrable” digital ledger, to offer to safeguard sensitive patient and financial data, since cyberattacks throughout the world are on the rise. 

“Since the information cannot be modified or copied, blockchain technology vastly reduces security risks, giving hospital and healthcare IT organizations a much stronger line of defense against cybercriminals.”

Durgampudi further noted that blockchain tech can also have a crucial part to play in healthcare payments, since it can offer assistance to provide enhanced transparency and efficiency, compared to currently employed payment measures in healthcare. 

He also stated that many payers and providers were hesitant to share information via email as emails could go awry and there was no proof of delivery.

“Blockchain provides both payers and providers with complete visibility into the entire lifecycle of a claim, from the patient registering at the front desk to disputing a cost to sending an explanation of benefits,”

Tech heavyweight IBM is reportedly among the top-tier establishments that have been putting in efforts to provide blockchain-powered healthcare solutions. 

The blockchain division of the firm has reportedly introduced numerous solutions for healthcare, nominally health credential verification, the “Trust Your Supplier” service to search for verified suppliers as well as “Blockchain Transparent Supply,” which offers supply chain tracking on temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals.