The healthcare sector is increasingly interested in deploying blockchain solutions, according to an IBM Institute for Business Value report.
For the report, the Economist Intelligence Unit surveyed 200 healthcare executives, including payers and providers, in 16 countries. The majority of executives, 56 percent, anticipate having a commercial blockchain solution at scale by 2020, while 16 percent — what IBM refers to as the "Trailblazers" — expect to achieve these solutions at scale in 2017.
When considering the benefits of blockchain implementation, 60 percent of the Trailblazers say blockchains will increase access new markets and will keep information secure; 70 percent say the greatest blockchain benefit will be seen in clinical trial records, regulatory compliance and medical/ health records.
The top barriers to healthcare organization's adoption of blockchain solutions include immature technology (56 percent), insufficient skills (55 percent), regulatory constraints (52 percent), lack of executive buy-in (51 percent) and lack of clear return on investment (43 percent).