The World Health Organization (WHO) has joined hands with major blockchain and tech companies on March 28 to launch a distributed ledger technology (DLT)-based platform. This platform will be used for sharing data about the coronavirus pandemic.
The platform by the name MiPasa is designed on top of Hyperledger Fabric and aims to enable early detection of COVID-19 carriers and all the infection hotspots. MiPasa was launched in partnership with IBM, Oracle, Hacera, and Microsoft Corporation.
This platform allegedly facilitates:
“fully private information sharing between individuals, state authorities, and health institutions.”
This project cross-references siloed location, and health data is ‘siloed’ on the platform to review global insights while guaranteeing patient privacy. MiPasa describes the platform as a verifiable information highway, and it is scheduled to host many publicly accessible tools soon too.
Based on the information from the project’s website:
“MiPasa can help monitor and foresee local and global epidemiological trends and detect likely asymptomatic carriers by feeding big data on infection routes and occurrences to powerful AI processors around the world.”
Many national health institutions are also contributing to the project. Some of the participating countries include China’s National Health Commission, the United States, Chinese and European Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the Government of Canada, and the Hong Kong Department of Health.
Combating Coronavirus Highlight DLT Applications Opportunities
The coronavirus menace has highlighted many of the applications for blockchain technology. Reports emerged on March 25 that the United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s Ministry of Community Development (MOCD) is planning to adopt DLT-based solutions for identity authentication and distribution of all official documents. The move will enable customers to engage with the MOCD from home securely.
Interestingly, blockchain technology has also been suggested as a reliable and efficient means that can be used to distribute the United States’ stimulus package. Some of the proponents are even suggesting that the US should launch a DLT-based ‘digital dollar.’
China has already deployed blockchain in many applications to help in its efforts to combat the deadly coronavirus. It is using DLT to track the virus’ spread, medical records, and the distribution of most of the medical supplies and charity donations.
A Chinese journalist has also used Ethereum to bypass censorship and publish an interview with a Wuhan-based doctor on the pandemic.
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