Blockchain And Health System Strengthening: Study On Accessibility, Satisfaction And Patient’s Outcomes

Abstract

Background: India’s healthcare delivery remains constrained by fragmented digital records, slow referrals, high administrative load, and limited confidence in shared data. Blockchain can add a decentralised, tamper-evident layer for secure exchange, auditable access, and coordinated workflows. This study assessed blockchain-enabled applications for system efficiency, patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, and workforce experience.

Methods: A mixed-methods intervention was deployed across electronic medical records, tuberculosis programme reporting, disease surveillance, AI-assisted decision support, and wearable-linked monitoring. Evaluation included a pilot (n=22) and scale-up (n=178). Reliability was examined using Cronbach’s alpha; paired t-tests, ANOVA, and chi-square tests assessed change across indicators of accessibility, workflow speed, coordination quality, patient experience, and staff burden.

Results: Internal consistency was strong in both phases (α>0.90). Referral time fell by 38%, administrative workload by 42%, record retrieval time by 35%, and decision-making speed improved by 47%. Mean scores improved for secure data sharing (2.46 to 4.25), surveillance effectiveness (2.21 to 4.24), and patient monitoring (2.35 to 3.98), with all differences significant (p<0.001). Process gains aligned with fewer duplicate investigations, shorter referral-to-discharge pathways, clearer handoffs, improved transparency, reduced waiting, and better team coordination.

Conclusion: Blockchain-supported integration generated measurable operational, clinical, and experiential benefits, supporting feasibility for scalable deployment in India nationwide, and enabling integration with AI platforms, real-time surveillance, and wearables to streamline data flow and clinical workflows across care settings.