How MatriX-iPass™ Compares with Other Health Pass Systems

The lockdowns have begun to ease, and international borders have slowly opened up. The pandemic, however, is still raging in some parts of the world. This brings about an important question – whether or not it’s safe to travel again. Using Health Pass Systems, some countries have already opened travel with other low-risk countries. However, that’s barely the boost that the travel industry needs right now.

Mandatory quarantines for arrivals are also affecting people’s decisions to travel. The Australian government, for example, requires travelers who enter their borders to quarantine for 14-days in a hotel.

The only problem is that quarantines are costly both on time and money. This begs the question – whether the travelers have a way to prove that they’re either tested negative or got the vaccination.

Possible Solutions

Luckily, some technologists have a strong answer. Their theory is that a secure digital passport platform can eliminate the need for quarantines. It allows travelers to show negative test results and vaccination status.

IBM, Accredify, The Commons Project, and IATA, are the key organizations to think that it’s a worthwhile project. It’s a belief that led them to create their own version of a digital Health Pass Systems.

Hong Kong-based start-up HealthMatriX Technologies, on the other hand, has a more complete solution on its hands.

Powered by Blockchain

Blockchain seems like a common theme across CommonPass, IBM-Accredify Digital Health Passport, and IATA Travel Pass. This shouldn’t be a surprise because of blockchain’s combination of secure and efficient data transmission.

Decentralized Security

Blockchain-powered health passes enable users to keep their identification information within their mobile apps. This data will be kept as an encrypted hash on an interconnected distributed ledger. This way, only the users can access their identification information such as name, address, and other data. A decentralized system protects data from breaches that often occur in a centralized database system.

Interoperability

What makes blockchain such a powerful tool is that it also allows for interoperability with other blockchains. This is best demonstrated with the recently announced partnership between IBM and Accredify. Their individual platforms can now verify the information stored on each other’s separate blockchain solutions.

But it’s not only with other digital health passport providers that blockchains need to be interoperable with. There is a need to be able to vertically integrate other aspects of the infectious disease response efforts as well. For example, vaccine distribution efforts need streamlining to ensure that people only use genuine vaccines. The MatriX-iPass™ platform as it is deployed in the Philippines has been a reliable test credential management system for LabX. And, LabX is the country’s largest test kit provider and administrator. As vaccines are currently in the rollout phase, steps are being taken to include vaccination records into the platform’s blockchain.

Secure Private Data

For CommonPass, IBM, Accredify, and IATA Travel Pass, the main tool for data privacy is the blockchain’s natural cryptography. With blockchain, hackers can’t access, copy, or tamper with the entire data within the system. If they break into vulnerable points in the system, they would access the data stored locally within that particular hash. It prevents massive data breaches that even banks are susceptible to.

Together with a decentralized blockchain and AI, MatriX-iPass™ keeps an eye out for any anomalies in the system. If it finds something suspicious, it will automatically alert relevant parties who can then decide on a course of action. As MatriX-iPass™ uses physical verification systems, it employs offline security measures as well. To protect this system, the platform uses a secure, banknote-grade ink to prevent document tampering/counterfeiting.

App-Based Management and QR Verification

These days, smartphones are everywhere. So, developers utilized this opportunity to ensure that the large population gets access to digital passport solutions easily. Generally, the digital apps of the three major players function the same way. They work as the blockchain’s digital signature that allows for the decryption of the ledger and unlocks the hash data within them. The apps also serve as a QR-code generator that documents inspectors (boarding agents and immigration officials). Inspectors can scan QR to verify health credentials. The QR-code simply shows the status and other relevant information that users can opt to give verifiers.

Contactless Verification

One of the most crucial features that Health Pass Systems should have is contactless verification. Communicable diseases often spread through physical contact. Passports and other credentials, therefore, are some of the usual suspects when it comes to disease transmission. For this reason, most digital health passport platforms opted to use wireless technologies.

Even the top 3 health pass solutions opted for the tried and tested QR code technology. The mobile apps for each of the platforms generate QR codes at the point of inspection. Upon scanning, verifiers can see whether the user has the necessary requirements needed to board a flight or enter a venue. MatriX-iPass™ also uses QR technology. Additionally, MatriX-iPass™ uses a secure QR printing technique for copy-proof documents for instant offline inspection.

Offline Verification

With digital-only health pass systems, it’s impossible to verify the status where internet connectivity isn’t available. This can potentially create a small section left vulnerable to counterfeit certificates. Therefore, the proliferation of infectious diseases. Rural areas, for example, would be left without a way to verify health credentials. With the offline physical document verification option available in MatriX-iPass™, users can easily get their certificates verified. Currently, MatriX-iPass™ is the only solution with high-security and copy-proof health passes. In partnership with LabX, MatriX-iPass™ gives users in the Philippines the option to use online and offline options to issue, update, and verify test results. As vaccines are in the distribution phase, MatriX-iPass™ is also being upgraded to be able to issue, update, and verify vaccine status as well.

Schedule a call today for more information about MatriX-iPass™.