Gem announces partnership with Philips to develop private Ethereum blockchain for enterprise healthcare applications

On April 26, blockchain technology company Gem officially announced the launch of the Gem Health project, which aims to promote cooperation and development of emerging technologies in the medical field.

Gem said in the announcement that Philips will be its first partner, and Philips will help Gem build a private Ethereum blockchain that can be used to develop enterprise-level medical applications.

In an interview, Gem CEO Micah Winkelspecht said their efforts could encourage the healthcare industry to explore the potential benefits of blockchain in creating health apps, global patient ID software, and secure electronic medical records.

Winkelspecht told CoinDesk:

“We are creating a network that allows healthcare companies to participate in piloting and creating cross-industry applications to address different use cases. We are working with a number of companies to build this environment.”

Gem CEO Micah Winkelspecht

As part of Gem’s work, Winkelspecht said Gem is investing in communications channels and physical events targeted at the industry.

As for Gem’s role in managing the new private blockchain system, Winkelspecht said the company’s goal is not to “own” the network, but rather to serve as a “matchmaker” between consultants and companies researching blockchain projects.

Winkelspecht believes that their cooperation with Philips further positions the company to provide enterprise services, and their previous company positioning is a provider of APIs for Bitcoin startups. In addition, he also spoke generally about the benefits that blockchain technology may have for the medical industry, and emphasized that the progress of this industry may bring benefits to society.

“This is a very big opportunity and a very important opportunity. Healthcare affects everyone. Now we see an opportunity to help transform the entire industry.”