Difference between revisions of "Smart card"

Revision as of 06:13, 3 March 2009

What is a Smart Card?

A smart card is a device with a tamper (attack)-resistant, integrated circuit chip (ICC) functioning as a secure microcontroller with internal memory or a secure memory chip alone. These devices are small personal items that take the form of a plastic card, a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, a universal serial bus (USB) drive, or an electronic fob (named for the medallion on a watch or key chain). (1) They are always part of a system and they tend to be the simplest part of that system. They can participate in automated electronic transactions, store data securely, and host/run a range of security algorithms and functions. They are not easily forged or copied, unlike cards with a magnetic strip. They are primarily used to add security to the system. (2)

There are two general categories of smart cards: contact and contactless. A contact smart card requires a smart card reader. The smart card usually has a gold-plated surface or conductive contact plate that transmits commands, data, and card status to the reader upon physical contact. A contactless smart card also requires a smart card reader but does not require contact with the reader. Instead, both the reader and card have antennae and communicate over a short distance (inches or centimeters) using radio frequencies (RF). The card’s power for the transmission of the RF is derived from the electromagnetic signal. Additionally, there are two smaller categories related to these: hybrid and dual-interface. The hybrid card has two chips, one for contact and one for contactless connection. The dual-interface card has a single chip that can be accessed by contact or contactless interface. (1)

The smart card was first introduced in the 1983 as way to reduce theft with pay phones in Europe.[1] This technology’s ability to securely store information drastically expanded its use to be used as a credit card, customer loyalty programs, store finance and personal health care information as well as many other uses.[2]

National Smart Card Projects

Since the late 1990’s countries have successfully distributed millions of smart cards to its citizens to improve their health care systems. The smart cards contain a variety of patient health, insurance, as well as other social service related information. A few of the smart card projects are:

Austria: In 2005, Austria completed it’s roll out of the ‘e-card’ which replaced there paper health insurance card.[3]

Belgium: In 1998 the Social Information System (SIS) card was rolled out to every citizen over 12 years of age. This smart card contained information related to different social security sectors, such as income and health care. In 2004, the country began rolling out a newer version called the Belgian citizen eID. [4]

France: The Vitale card was first issued to all of it’s citizens in 1998. In 2006, France released the next generation of the Vitale card which contained electronic signatures. [5]

Germany: The electronische Gesundheitskarte (eGK), containing prescription information, was rolled out to all of Germany’s 71 million health insurance customers in 2006. At the time, the project was considered the world’s largest IT project costing 1.6 Billion Euros.[6]

Puerto Rico: In 2005, Puerto Rico issued 2 million smart cards to Medicaid recipients under the Tarjeta Inteligente De Salud program.[7,8]

Taiwan: In 2004, Taiwan replaced the National Health Insurance (NHI) paper card with a smart card containing the patient’s medical history and preventive health management information.[9]

Notes

1. Smart Card [1]

2. What is a Smart Card? [2]

3. AT: Austria launches electronic health insurance card pilot [3]

4. Belgium Strategic perspective [4]

5. National profile for eGovernment IDM initiatives in France [5]

6. German Health Card[6]

7. Axalto wins largest NA healthcare deal[7]

8. Puerto Rico Launches Health Smart Card [8]

9. A story of the NHI card: Its growth and change [9]

Submitted by Mary Ellen Mattson