The Block Media has been conducting interviews with promising companies, startups, and project representatives as a New Year's plan for 2023. 

The interviews are to meet people who will stand out in the digital asset and blockchain technology markets and listen to their vision.

The third interview is with Lemon Chain CEO Kwon Ki-wook. Lemonchain is making a real case for the medical blockchain market.

He said Lemon Chain would implement Medical Web3. He added Lemon Healthcare collaborates with 120 general tertiary hospitals and said he would implement Web 3 in the medical field.

Lemon Chain won third place with AM Management at the Block Festa 2022 Web3 Startup Pitching Contest. Judges evaluated Lemon Chain as making a real case in the medical blockchain business in the competition. The interview took place last month at the Gasan office of Lemon Healthcare.

Q. Please introduce Lemon Chain and Lemon Healthcare.

Lemon Chain is a medical web3 blockchain. Lemon Chain runs on the Lemon Healthcare platform. Healthcare data generated when an individual visits a hospital can be recognized as individual ownership, not hospital ownership.

Lemon Healthcare connects hospital customer data by collaborating with 120 general tertiary hospitals. Hospitals, insurance companies, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare companies use the data.

The digital healthcare system was connected to a general tertiary hospital's electronic medical record (EMR) system to manage data. Accessing EMR data was impossible in the past, but the API was made public through Lemon Healthcare's Quick API Builder (QAB). In recognition of this value, Lemon Healthcare received a Series C investment, and the valuation reached 110 billion won. 

Q. Why do you only handle data from advanced hospitals?

We can explain the value of healthcare data as a pyramid. Local hospitals collect healthcare data at the bottom of the pyramid; cold is typically collected data. The value of the data is low when compared only with the value of the information big hospitals possess. General tertiary hospitals collect data dealing with diseases such as cancer, and the data value is much higher.

Q. Please introduce the current Lemon Chain's project.

We will upgrade the 'ChungGu-ui-Shin : Almighty Reimbursement' app to 2.0. It is possible to claim the loss insurance premium automatically. In other words, data can be delivered directly and automatically to the insurance company without going to the hospital counter. 

If the hospital agrees, Lemon Healthcare will act on behalf of insurance claims, and the data the hospital collects can be automatically billed directly to the insurance company. In addition, hospital billing among Kakao Pay's functions includes Lemon Healthcare.

We use Klaytn as the mainnet. Points are provided as rewards to users whi use the platform.

Q. How is consent for patient personal information made?

We clearly state the provision of personal information in the application terms and conditions. Lemon Healthcare provides and develops each hospital application and entrusts the application service operation and development to Lemon Healthcare.

Personal medical information is all encrypted through technical protocols. In addition, when a patient requests their medical healthcare data, the hospital must provide all data in electronic or written form under the Personal Information Protection Act.

Q. Are there any difficulties in uploading medical data to the blockchain?

Uploading all medical data to the blockchain has realistic technical limitations, such as speed limits, and we cannot put all medical data on-chain. Therefore, we envision a hybrid form that uploads only light hash values on-chain and heavy medical data off-chain.

Initially, we have a node for each hospital so that we can move and verify data. However, due to technical difficulties, we divided the previously planned Healthcare Blockchain Network (HBN) technology roadmap into four stages.

Q. What is Lemon Healthcare's project outlook?

To make a reservation for a general tertiary hospital, you must contact each hospital separately. Lemon Healthcare plans to make reservations for 120 advanced public hospitals at once in the future.

Q. What are your comments on participating in Block Festa 2022?

The technology roadmap was unveiled to the public for the first time at Block Festa. We could verify the HBN  technology roadmap in November. Feedback from pitching competition judges enabled us to revise our strategy.

The Block Media is Korea's first media specialized in blockchain and digital asset market and holds the Block Festa conference every year. At Block Festa 2022, we had time to discuss with experts what to prepare for innovation under the Spring of Web3. As one of the Block Festa 2022 events, the Block Media held a web3 startup pitching contest on Dec. 2 last year at the Uprise Lounge in southern Seoul.