Addressing Ethical And Legal Considerations In The Convergence Of AI And Blockchain In Healthcare And Public Policy Sectors

Addressing Ethical And Legal Considerations In The Convergence Of AI And Blockchain In Healthcare And Public Policy Sectors: Fostering Transparency, Accountability, And Privacy Across Public And Private Spheres

Upasana Mandhata, VIT School of Law

Sanjana Ratkal, VIT School of Law

ABSTRACT

The paper investigates the scope of Blockchain in enhancing transparency and accountability within AI-driven decision-making processes, with a specific emphasis on critical sectors such as healthcare and public policy.

The paper will address major challenges concerning the quality, accessibility, and affordability with regard to applicability of AI – Blockchain technologies in e-governance and Public Distribution System in comparison with systems in place in our global counterparts.

AI solutions stand as a beacon of hope in overcoming significant hurdles in the healthcare sector such as the scarcity of qualified healthcare professionals, inadequate infrastructure and service deficiency, shortcomings with regard to non-uniform accessibility to healthcare services across the nation coupled with financial burden of healthcare expenses.

The integration of AI with Blockchain technology provides a secure platform for the storage and sharing of medical records ensuring data integrity allowing multiple stakeholders to collaborate without the need for centralized authority.

The potential applications of Blockchain in healthcare encompass its capability to securely share patient and treatment information among multiple providers, establish unique digital patient identifiers, ensure decentralization of treatment data across various hospitals, and regulate access to medical records through self-executing codes.

The amalgamation of AI and Blockchain in the healthcare sector not only promises to ameliorate the current challenges but also paves the way for an era of more accessible, affordable, and efficient healthcare services in India.

AI's potential in transforming public policy can be manifested in various crucial domains such as Automation of routine tasks, enhanced efficiency and data-driven decision-making. Blockchain technologies can find significant application in securing and distributing of social benefits, automating compliance processes by regulatory bodies, safe and secure data sharing across government agencies, amongst other limitless possibilities if harnessed effectively.

The paper will draw comparison to the usage of these technologies in the global landscape and that of the Indian public sphere with help of case studies. Further, it will provide recommendations on the scope of utilisation of these technologies in modern systems. The paper will provide suggestions in AI-Blockchain to track food grains and record key data throughout supply chain to resolve issues such as wastage from logistic issues, administrative obstacles and unpredictable supply.

In addition, this paper will assess the existing regulatory frameworks in place for the integration of AI and Blockchain, critically evaluating their effectiveness and identifying areas where regulatory adaptations might be warranted.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain technology, Data privacy, Healthcare industry, Public policy, E-government, PDS, Challenges to digitisation