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A Blockchain-Based Regulatory Framework for mHealth

Author

Listed:
  • Dounia Marbouh

    (Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates)

  • Mecit Can Emre Simsekler

    (Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates)

  • Khaled Salah

    (Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates)

  • Raja Jayaraman

    (Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates)

  • Samer Ellahham

    (Heart and Vascular Institute and Quality and Patient Safety Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi 112412, United Arab Emirates)

Abstract

Mobile health (mHealth) is playing a key role in facilitating health services for patients. Such services may include remote diagnostics and monitoring, chronic conditions management, preventive medicine, and health promotion. While mHealth has gained significant traction during the COVID-19 pandemic, they may pose safety risks to patients. This entails regulations and monitoring of shared data and management of potential safety risks of all mHealth applications continuously and systematically. In this study, we propose a blockchain-based framework for regulating mHealth apps and governing their safe use. We systematically identify the needs, stakeholders, and requirements of the current mHealth practices and regulations that may benefit from blockchain features. Further, we exemplify our framework on a diabetes mHealth app that supports safety risk assessment and incident reporting functions. Blockchain technology can offer a solution to achieve this goal by providing improved security, transparency, accountability, and traceability of data among stakeholders. Blockchain has the potential to alleviate existing mHealth problems related to data centralization, poor data quality, lack of trust, and the absence of robust governance. In the paper, we present a discussion on the security aspects of our proposed blockchain-based framework, including limitations and challenges.

Suggested Citation

  • Dounia Marbouh & Mecit Can Emre Simsekler & Khaled Salah & Raja Jayaraman & Samer Ellahham, 2022. "A Blockchain-Based Regulatory Framework for mHealth," Data, MDPI, vol. 7(12), pages 1-22, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jdataj:v:7:y:2022:i:12:p:177-:d:1000086
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michel Rauchs & Andrew Glidden & Brian Gordon & Gina Pieters & Martino Recanatini & Francois Rostand & Kathryn Vagneur & Bryan Zhang, 2018. "Distributed Ledger Technology Systems. A Conceptual Framework," Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance Reports 201810-dlts, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.
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