Certificate of incapacity based on Blockchain and Smart-Contracts

Aim What potentials does blockchain-technology offer to improve the healthcare system? This question shall be explained with a specific application concept for the certificate of incapacity based on Blockchain and Smart-Contracts. Method Starting point is the current paper-based process of the certificate of incapacity, including the legal foundations. In order to present the solution on a blockchain basis, the special features as well as the added value compared to conventional technological approaches were worked out. Results Implementing the certificate of incapacity on a blockchain basis has the potential and also the challenge to connect more than 43 million physicians, employers, health insurances and insured employees in real-time. This eliminates all media disruptions and offers enormous savings potential due to reduced transaction costs. Furthermore, the digital process can counteract the high waste of paper and resources and prevents the dispute over data sovereignty because of distributed data management. Besides, smart contracts automatically ensure authenticity, so that manipulation of the certificate of incapacity is virtually impossible. Conclusion The presented application concept offers enormous potential for the digitalisation of the healthcare system as well as for the protection of the environment and should therefore be promoted. The implementation of the blockchain-concept and the associated integration of those involved in the process makes it possible to link other analog paper-based processes to the blockchain-infrastructure. This contributes significantly to the reduction of bureaucracy in the healthcare sector.