IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/tefoso/v213y2025ics0040162525000629.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Blockchain technologies adoption in healthcare: Overcoming barriers amid the hype cycle to enhance patient care

Author

Listed:
  • Govindarajan, Usharani Hareesh
  • Narang, Gagan
  • Singh, Dhiraj Kumar
  • Yadav, Vinay Surendra

Abstract

Blockchain technologies are increasingly recognized as a transformative force across industries, offering potential solutions for information management, data security, and operational efficiency improvement. However, integration into the healthcare sector faces significant barriers, ranging from technical challenges to organizational resistance. In this study, a methodology is proposed that examines these critical barriers through a comprehensive analysis of 3265 academic papers and derives actionable solutions from 1566 patents published between 2016 and 2023. This approach bridges the gap between identifying challenges and implementing solutions. Using the “Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA)”, twelve critical adoption challenges are analyzed, while Top2Vec-based topic modeling identifies innovations that best address the ranked barriers. In addition to this, the proposed ‘healthcare ecosphere’ knowledge map serves as a comprehensive tool to analyze key stakeholders, their interactions, and the alignment of adoption barriers in solution spaces. The findings show that innovations in blockchain technologies are heavily concentrated in areas such as data security and application functionalities, whereas other critical domains—such as consensus mechanisms, governance, and regulatory frameworks—remain underexplored, pointing to opportunities for growth and development. The mapping of barriers to solutions provides practical guidance for healthcare providers, policymakers, and technologists seeking to implement the blockchain technologies effectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Govindarajan, Usharani Hareesh & Narang, Gagan & Singh, Dhiraj Kumar & Yadav, Vinay Surendra, 2025. "Blockchain technologies adoption in healthcare: Overcoming barriers amid the hype cycle to enhance patient care," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:213:y:2025:i:c:s0040162525000629
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124031
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162525000629
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124031?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Usharani Hareesh Govindarajan & Gagan Narang & Nikola Zivlak & Vinay Surendra Yadav, 2022. "Industry 4.0 cross-domain blockchain solutions in healthcare : Trends and clinical considerations," Post-Print hal-04850424, HAL.
    2. Sara Saberi & Mahtab Kouhizadeh & Joseph Sarkis & Lejia Shen, 2019. "Blockchain technology and its relationships to sustainable supply chain management," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(7), pages 2117-2135, April.
    3. Mauro, Marianna & Noto, Guido & Prenestini, Anna & Sarto, Fabrizia, 2024. "Digital transformation in healthcare: Assessing the role of digital technologies for managerial support processes," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    4. Massaro, Maurizio, 2023. "Digital transformation in the healthcare sector through blockchain technology. Insights from academic research and business developments," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    5. Grid Thoma, 2020. "The valuation of patent-trademark pairing as IP strategy: evidence from the USPTO," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(1-2), pages 80-104, February.
    6. Kraus, Sascha & Schiavone, Francesco & Pluzhnikova, Anna & Invernizzi, Anna Chiara, 2021. "Digital transformation in healthcare: Analyzing the current state-of-research," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 557-567.
    7. Kannan Govindan & Arash Khalili Nasr & Mohammad Saeed Heidary & Saeede Nosrati-Abarghooee & Hassan Mina, 2023. "Prioritizing adoption barriers of platforms based on blockchain technology from balanced scorecard perspectives in healthcare industry: a structural approach," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 61(11), pages 3512-3526, June.
    8. Lee, Sang M. & Lee, DonHee, 2021. "Opportunities and challenges for contactless healthcare services in the post-COVID-19 Era," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    9. Helliar, Christine V. & Crawford, Louise & Rocca, Laura & Teodori, Claudio & Veneziani, Monica, 2020. "Permissionless and permissioned blockchain diffusion," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    10. Saha, Esha & Rathore, Pradeep, 2024. "The impact of healthcare 4.0 technologies on healthcare supply chain performance: Extending the organizational information processing theory," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    11. Kouhizadeh, Mahtab & Saberi, Sara & Sarkis, Joseph, 2021. "Blockchain technology and the sustainable supply chain: Theoretically exploring adoption barriers," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    12. Deepak Mathivathanan & K. Mathiyazhagan & Nripendra P. Rana & Sangeeta Khorana & Yogesh K. Dwivedi, 2021. "Barriers to the adoption of blockchain technology in business supply chains: a total interpretive structural modelling (TISM) approach," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 59(11), pages 3338-3359, June.
    13. Matthew J Page & Joanne E McKenzie & Patrick M Bossuyt & Isabelle Boutron & Tammy C Hoffmann & Cynthia D Mulrow & Larissa Shamseer & Jennifer M Tetzlaff & Elie A Akl & Sue E Brennan & Roger Chou & Jul, 2021. "The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(3), pages 1-15, March.
    14. Hoque, Md Mahfuzul & Kummer, Tyge-F. & Yigitbasioglu, Ogan, 2024. "How can blockchain-based lending platforms support microcredit activities in developing countries? An empirical validation of its opportunities and challenges," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ângela Filipa Oliveira Gonçalves & Shafik Faruc Norali & Clemens Bechter, 2025. "AI-Powered Buy-Now-Pay-Later Smart Contracts in Healthcare," FinTech, MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-18, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Davies, Jennifer & Sharifi, Hossein & Lyons, Andrew & Forster, Rick & Elsayed, Omar Khaled Shokry Mohamed, 2024. "Non-fungible tokens: The missing ingredient for sustainable supply chains in the metaverse age?," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    2. Xue Han & Pratibha Rani, 2022. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Evaluate the barriers of blockchain technology adoption in sustainable supply chain management in the manufacturing sector using a novel Pythagorean fuzzy-CRITIC-CoCoSo approach," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 725-742, December.
    3. Rizwan Manzoor & B. S. Sahay & Sujeet Kumar Singh, 2025. "Blockchain technology in supply chain management: an organizational theoretic overview and research agenda," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 348(3), pages 1307-1354, May.
    4. Ibrahim Alkish & Kolawole Iyiola & Ahmad Bassam Alzubi & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani, 2025. "Does Digitization Lead to Sustainable Economic Behavior? Investigating the Roles of Employee Well-Being and Learning Orientation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-29, May.
    5. Moslem Alimohammadlou & Saeed Alinejad, 2025. "Challenges of blockchain implementation in SMEs’ supply chains: an integrated IT2F-BWM and IT2F-DEMATEL method," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 907-949, April.
    6. Zhang, Ying & Tavalaei, M. Mahdi & Parry, Glenn & Zhou, Peng, 2024. "Evolution or involution? A systematic literature review of organisations' blockchain adoption factors," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    7. Clarissa Amico & Roberto Cigolini, 2024. "Improving port supply chain through blockchain-based bills of lading: a quantitative approach and a case study," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 26(1), pages 74-104, March.
    8. Zhu-Jun Wang & Yangyang Sun & Qin Su & Muhammet Deveci & Kannan Govindan & Mirosław J. Skibniewski & Zhen-Song Chen, 2024. "Smart Contract Application in Resisting Extreme Weather Risks for the Prefabricated Construction Supply Chain: Prototype Exploration and Assessment," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 33(5), pages 1049-1087, October.
    9. Ulpan Tokkozhina & Ana Lucia Martins & Joao C. Ferreira, 2023. "Uncovering dimensions of the impact of blockchain technology in supply chain management," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 99-125, March.
    10. Giulia Chiaraluce & Deborah Bentivoglio & Adele Finco & Mariantonietta Fiore & Francesco Contò & Antonino Galati, 2024. "Exploring the role of blockchain technology in modern high-value food supply chains: global trends and future research directions," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 12(1), pages 1-22, December.
    11. Venkataiah Chittipaka & Satish Kumar & Uthayasankar Sivarajah & Jana Lay-Hwa Bowden & Manish Mohan Baral, 2023. "Blockchain Technology for Supply Chains operating in emerging markets: an empirical examination of technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 327(1), pages 465-492, August.
    12. Aditi S. Saha & Rakesh D. Raut & Vinay Surendra Yadav & Abhijit Majumdar, 2022. "Blockchain Changing the Outlook of the Sustainable Food Supply Chain to Achieve Net Zero?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-21, December.
    13. Mohammadreza Akbari & John L. Hopkins, 2022. "Digital technologies as enablers of supply chain sustainability in an emerging economy," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 689-710, December.
    14. Abderahman Rejeb & Karim Rejeb & John G. Keogh & Suhaiza Zailani, 2022. "Barriers to Blockchain Adoption in the Circular Economy: A Fuzzy Delphi and Best-Worst Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-23, March.
    15. Jaspreet Kaur & Satish Kumar & Balkrishna E. Narkhede & Marina Dabić & Ajay Pal Singh Rathore & Rohit Joshi, 2024. "Barriers to blockchain adoption for supply chain finance: the case of Indian SMEs," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 303-340, March.
    16. Arim Park & Huan Li, 2021. "The Effect of Blockchain Technology on Supply Chain Sustainability Performances," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, February.
    17. Mukesh Kumar & Rakesh D. Raut & Mahak Sharma & Vikas Kumar Choubey & Sanjoy Kumar Paul, 2022. "Enablers for resilience and pandemic preparedness in food supply chain," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 1198-1223, December.
    18. Zhu, Qingyun & Bai, Chunguang & Sarkis, Joseph, 2022. "Blockchain technology and supply chains: The paradox of the atheoretical research discourse," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    19. Chuangneng Cai & Xiancheng Hao & Kui Wang & Xuebing Dong, 2023. "The Impact of Perceived Benefits on Blockchain Adoption in Supply Chain Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-24, April.
    20. Arunmozhi, Manimuthu & Venkatesh, V.G. & Arisian, Sobhan & Shi, Yangyan & Raja Sreedharan, V., 2022. "Application of blockchain and smart contracts in autonomous vehicle supply chains: An experimental design," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:213:y:2025:i:c:s0040162525000629. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00401625 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.