Myongji Hospital has signed an agreement with BICube, an IT company, to co-develop a blockchain-based medical information exchange system.

Myongji Hospital Director Kim Hyung-soo (right) and BICube CEO Kim Min-kyung hold up their agreement at Myongji Hospital in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday.

The main content of the accord is to build a hybrid cloud that combines public and private clouds, and secure the safety of online medical information exchange system by combining blockchain technology in the process of exchanging medical data through the cloud, the hospital said Tuesday.

Although block chains are generally known for its involvement in the virtual currency based technologies, this project will use medical data and store new data and prevent it from any tampering, it said.

Also, the two sides plan to use a virtual private network (VPN) solution to build a security system such as physical authentication and anti-piracy, anti-tampering, data protection through device authentication, remote verification, and signature codes.

The hospital will provide its data exchange service through the inter-hospital blockchain to other hospitals online when the patient agrees to release the information.

Information provision is a system in which an authorized user accesses the hybrid cloud, stores the product information in a blockchain, and exchanges securely using the VPN communication network.

During the process, the hybrid cloud plays the role of data relay, communication between the patient and the hospital, and takes charge of various payments but does not store medical information.

The two institutions aim to commercialize the service by 2019.

“When a blockchain-based medical information exchange system is commercialized, it can prevent unnecessary administrative procedures as well as securing safety,” Myongji Hospital Director Kim Hyung-soo said. “It can also help medical workers from missing the golden time during emergencies and rapid clinical support for drug side effects and allergies.”

BICube CEO Kim Min-kyung also said, “Medical services that combine blockchain technology and medical information platform will be of great benefit to both patients and medical institutions, due to the rapidity of health information exchange and transmission based on safety.”

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