Whitepaper - Digital Identities for a Secure and Efficient Health System: Why Cantons, Municipalities, and Businesses Should Act Now

1. Introduction

Why should people care about SSI (Self-Sovereign Identity) and digital identities? In a world where trust is crucial, the ability to verify credentials instantly without relying on central authorities is transformative. Whether for travel, employment, or healthcare, SSI empowers individuals while ensuring security and efficiency. Imagine a doctor rushing through an emergency vaccination campaign. The queue is long, time is short, and verifying credentials manually takes up valuable minutes. What if a digital system could instantly confirm authorized vaccinators? The distinction between analog and digital verification can make all the difference in such situations. This article highlights the practical implications of analog vs. digital verification processes and how digital solutions can streamline vaccine administration. Imagine a doctor rushing through an emergency vaccination campaign. The queue is long, time is short, and verifying credentials manually takes up valuable minutes. What if a digital system could instantly confirm authorized vaccinators? The distinction between analog and digital verification can make all the difference in such situations. This article highlights the practical implications of analog vs. digital verification processes and how digital solutions can streamline vaccine administration.

2. Challenges and Opportunities

Challenges

• Need for standardized regulations and frameworks.
• Digital identity systems must be legally compliant and interoperable.
• Adoption and training of healthcare workers in digital systems.

Opportunities

• Reduction of administrative workload through automated verification.
• Fraud-proof documentation of vaccination eligibility.
• Increased efficiency and faster vaccination processes.
• Easy proof of authorization using digital professional IDs and certificates.

3. Analog vs. Digital Authorization of Vaccinators

AspectAnalog MethodsDigital MethodsVerification of eligibilityPhysical documents (e.g., diplomas, certificates, cantonal permits)Electronic registries for real-time verificationStorage of credentialsPaper-based registriesDigital professional IDs (e.g., eID, SwissID, Self-Sovereign Identity)Validation processManual verification by health authorities or employersAutomated validation via smart contracts or digital signaturesRisk factorsHigh administrative burden, risk of document loss or fraudEnhanced security and fraud prevention

4. Practical Implementation in Switzerland

PracticeAnalog ApproachDigital ApproachAuthorization of vaccinatorsSubmission of physical documents for verificationeID systems and Verifiable Credentials (VCs) enable digital authorizationVerification processManual approval by cantonal health authoritiesQR-code-based digital certificates allow instant verificationPatient documentationPaper certificates (e.g., WHO vaccination booklet)Health platforms link digital professional IDs with national databases

5. Multi-Issuer & Multi-Verifier Use Case with DSA Wallet Collaboration

Objective

The goal of this scenario is to demonstrate how a decentralized, user-controlled system can enable seamless collaboration between multiple issuers and verifiers, ensuring secure and efficient vaccination credential management.

Concept

A Multi-Issuer & Multi-Verifier model allows multiple trusted entities (issuers) to provide digital vaccination credentials, which can be verified by various stakeholders (verifiers) through a decentralized and user-controlled DSA Wallet.

How It Works

1. Issuers: Hospitals, government health authorities, and private medical institutions issue digital vaccination credentials using Verifiable Credentials (VCs) stored in the user's DSA Wallet.
2. User Control: The individual manages their credentials in their DSA Wallet and selectively shares them when needed.
3. Verifiers: Airlines, employers, healthcare providers, and government agencies verify the digital credentials through a decentralized trust framework.
4. Interoperability: Seamless verification across borders and industries using SSI and blockchain-based standards.

Benefits

• User sovereignty: Individuals fully control their vaccination credentials.
• Secure & Tamper-proof: Digital signatures ensure authenticity.
• Interoperable: Works across different countries and institutions.
• Scalable: Multiple entities can issue and verify credentials without dependency on a central authority.

6. Ambitions Level in Digital Authorization

Public Sector (Cantons & Municipalities)

• Basic Level: Digital storage of vaccination records, QR-code-based verification for patients, national electronic database with manual input.
• Intermediate Level: Automated validation of healthcare professional credentials, integration with national and international health frameworks, secure digital ID linkage for medical staff.
• Advanced Level: Fully decentralized Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) solutions, smart contract-based real-time authorization, global interoperability with WHO and EU digital vaccination frameworks.

Private Sector (Economy & Industry)

• Basic Level: Digital verification of employee vaccination status, integration with company health management systems.
• Intermediate Level: Automated verification through digital credentials, cross-border compatibility for international business travelers.
• Advanced Level: Integration of digital health passes with enterprise identity management, blockchain-based verification for global compliance.

7. Conclusion

The digitization of vaccine authorization offers significant advantages over analog methods. The future lies in interoperable, secure, and user-friendly digital solutions that support an efficient and trustworthy vaccination strategy. Switzerland should actively invest in digital identity and certification systems to ensure a simpler and more secure vaccination process.