The open nature of blockchain means the health records are also tamperproof.
Singapore is planning to use its Digital Health Passport to extend the usage to other healthcare records such as COVID-19 Swab results, proof-of-immunity and even vaccination records.
In a time where the world is still grappling with COVID-19, the app has the potential to become an essential tool for both the healthcare sector and travel industry.
In May 2020, while the frontline medical staff was busy containing the pandemic, teams from SGInnovate and Accredify were busy developing a product called Digital Health Passport behind the scenes.
By storing data on blockchain, Accredify built upon GovTech’s OpenAttestation framework for HealthCert, a verifiable travel credential standard created by GovTech, to enhance the safety and efficiency of travel for all outbound travellers and immigration authorities.
Digital Health Passport allows for medical documents – including COVID-19 discharge memos and swab results – to be issued and stored in a secure digital wallet.
The mobile app was created to resolve the issue of lost or damaged physical medical records by providing an easily accessible, portable repository of medical documents for citizens.
Verification is fast and easy; users can automatically access their digital records via SingPass and present it to officials via QR code when required.
The open nature of blockchain, the health records are also tamperproof (we’ve explained how blockchain works in a previous article about degrees and diplomas, read that here).
Time is of the essence during a pandemic and the development of the Digital Health Passport definitely reflects the urgency required.
The project started in May, but by July an early beta version was already implemented in a pilot with both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Manpower.
Put into action in MOM’s FWMOMCARE app, Digital Health Passport was deployed to enable the issuance of verifiable discharge memo that expedited the re-entry of foreign workers into their dormitory and workplace.
