As the world of Web3 continues to drive interest and intrigue from lawmakers and industry leaders alike, the potential for this technology goes beyond buzzwords like “crypto” and “NFTs.” The healthcare space is on the brink of a revolution, and Web3 has a role to play in its future.
With this in mind, ACT | The App Association’s Amplify Diverse Talent Working Group hosted Episode 2 of our ongoing Web3 webinar series “Watering the Tech Desert: How Blockchain Can Close Gaps in Healthcare.” This webinar brought together blockchain and digital health experts for a discussion on the intersection of Web3, healthcare, equity, and inclusion.
How Blockchain Can Close Gaps in Healthcare
During our panel, speakers discussed how leaders in government and industry can get ahead of the curve in understanding how innovators will leverage the infrastructure driving Web3 and blockchain, and previewed the kinds of solutions that aim to empower physicians and their patients. Throughout the discussion, moderated by our very own Leanna Wade, regulatory policy associate here at the App Association, attendees heard from member companies in verticals across the app economy . Panelists included Dr. Alex Cahana, venture partner at Impact Rooms, Dr. Leah Houston, emergency physician and CEO at HPEC, Evin McMullen, founder at Disco.xyz, and Tom Petersil, founder and CEO at EasyLabs.
“web3 creates a social software that allows us to be more cohesive. it’s not about interoperability, it’s about intercoperability.” Dr. Alex Cahana, Impact Labs
— ACT | App Association Members (@actmembers) February 23, 2023
“when we think about #DataJustice in general, we see disenfranchised and at risk groups being failed. these are often marginalized communities who need access to care and #equitable technology. there is an opportunity with #Web3 to right those wrongs.”Evin McMullen, @discoxyz pic.twitter.com/4B3WY9b5wV
— ACT | App Association Members (@actmembers) February 23, 2023
As our speakers discussed the potential of blockchain and Web3 in relation to mitigating health disparities across underserved communities, including electronic health records (EHRs) on the blockchain as well as data privacy and security considerations related to Web3 infrastructure, one thing became clear: Web3 provides innovators with an opportunity to right the wrongs users have seen with data ownership in the second iteration of the World Wide Web (Web2). The world of Web3 has the potential to fill so many gaps, from data ownership to better patient outcomes, and policymakers now have an opportunity to empower the small businesses driving innovation in this field.
“a lot of people may not know this, but #blockchain is a tool that actually provides a more secure environment than #web2.” Tom Petersil, EasyLabs pic.twitter.com/XOPlNqfWRG
— ACT | App Association Members (@actmembers) February 23, 2023
“we talk about consent all the time and the fact is many privacy polices with that small print isn’t true consent. with #blockchain consent is clear and patients can feel secure.” Dr. Leah Houston, @HPECid pic.twitter.com/w0jdH9ENyS
— ACT | App Association Members (@actmembers) February 23, 2023
Until Next Time
Watch the webinar in its entirety below or on our YouTube channel. You can also get a tl;dr in our Twitter thread here.