Strategies for the barriers linked to implementation of blockchain technology in the health-care business model

Purpose The purpose of this study is to ascertain and rank the barriers linked to the implementation of blockchain technology in the health-care business model, as well as to propose possible strategies and framework for barrier management. Design/methodology/approach This research study identifies barriers related to the implementation of blockchain technology in the health-care industry’s business model through a literature review of peer-reviewed journal papers and academic input. After identifying the barriers, the technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) is used to rank them in order of significance. Finally, the possible strategies and framework for barrier management are proposed. Findings Through a literature review, 37 barriers related to the implementation of blockchain technology in the health-care industry have been identified. The TOPSIS technique identified interaction with IoT devices and regulatory uncertainty as the primary barriers to implementing the blockchain concept. Resistance to change and health-care data silos are considered less significant barriers. Research limitations/implications The research findings reflect on the responses collected through questionnaires. Beyond the scope of this study, there exist additional techniques for barrier analysis. Practical implications The findings of this research will enable blockchain technology users to conquer the barriers in the way of implementing blockchain technology in health-care business models by adopting strategies and framework. Originality/value The research presented here provides insight into the challenges involved in integrating blockchain technology into the health-care business model. Additionally, the TOPSIS approach is used in this paper to prioritize the identified barriers.