Blockchain For Transparent Governance and Public Health: A Context-Sensitive Strategic Framework For Developing Nations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64252/qytwpp12Keywords:
blockchain governance, public sector accountability, digital trust, health data resilience, trust, responsible innovationAbstract
Purpose – The paper aims to investigate how blockchain technology can be strategically applied to enhance accountability, transparency, and operational integrity in governance and public health systems within a developing country context. The participants of the study were key stakeholders from government, healthcare, civil society, academia, and the technology sector in the Philippines.
Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative exploratory research design was employed using semi-structured interviews with twelve purposively selected informants. Data were analyzed thematically following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework. The analysis was guided by blockchain governance theory, responsible innovation, and digital trust frameworks.
Findings – The results revealed four core themes: governance transparency, health data integrity, adoption challenges, and ethical and social considerations. These themes informed the development of a four-pillar Strategic Framework for Accountability, which integrates governance transparency mechanisms, health data resilience, institutional readiness, and ethical inclusion. The findings further indicated that blockchain’s transformative potential extends beyond its technical design, offering mechanisms to restore institutional trust, safeguard health data, and strengthen credibility in procurement, land registration, and health systems.
Research limitations/implications – As the present study only examined blockchain adoption in the Philippine setting, future research may expand the framework through cross-national comparisons, larger sample sizes, and mixed-method evaluations to assess blockchain’s long-term impacts on institutional performance, equity, and trust.
Practical implications – The findings of the study provide policymakers and institutions with a context-sensitive roadmap for blockchain adoption. The framework emphasizes regulatory foresight, stakeholder education, citizen participation, and organizational capacity as prerequisites for sustainable implementation. These insights can guide governments and health agencies in integrating blockchain ethically and effectively
Social implications – The study highlights blockchain’s potential to promote inclusive and transparent public services by addressing corruption, data fragmentation, and inequitable access. By embedding ethical safeguards and participatory mechanisms, blockchain adoption can strengthen citizen trust and contribute to resilient governance in developing nations.
Originality/value – The study offers one of the first empirically grounded frameworks that unites blockchain applications in governance and public health within a developing country context. By synthesizing theoretical perspectives with field insights, it advances blockchain scholarship while providing a scalable and ethically grounded model for transparent and accountable public service delivery in Southeast Asia and beyond.