Block MedCare: Advancing healthcare through blockchain integration

Abstract

In an era driven by information exchange, transparency and security hold crucial importance, particularly within the healthcare industry, where data integrity and confidentiality are paramount. This paper investigates the integration of blockchain technology in healthcare, focusing on its potential to revolutionize Electronic Health Records (EHR) management and data sharing. By leveraging Ethereum-based blockchain implementations and smart contracts, we propose a novel system that empowers patients to securely store and manage their medical data. Our research addresses critical challenges in implementing blockchain in healthcare, including scalability, user privacy, and regulatory compliance. We propose a solution that combines digital signatures, Role-Based Access Control, and a multi-layered architecture to enhance security and ensure controlled access. The system's key functions, including user registration, data append, and data retrieval, are facilitated through smart contracts, providing a secure and efficient mechanism for managing health information. To validate our approach, we developed a decentralized application (dApp) that demonstrates the practical implementation of our blockchain-based healthcare solution. The dApp incorporates user-friendly interfaces for patients, doctors, and administrators, showcasing the system's potential to streamline healthcare processes while maintaining data security and integrity. Additionally, we conducted a survey to gain insights into the perceived benefits and challenges of blockchain adoption in healthcare. The results indicate strong interest among healthcare professionals and IT experts, while also highlighting concerns about integration costs and technological complexity. Our findings underscore the transformative potential of blockchain technology in healthcare, pointing towards a new era of patient-centric and secure healthcare services. By addressing current limitations and exploring future enhancements, such as integration with IoT devices and AI-driven analytics, this research contributes to the ongoing evolution of secure, efficient, and interoperable healthcare systems.