INTEGRATION OF

BLOCKCHAIN
IN HEALTHCARE
LITERATURE REVIEW

Authors:
Subhajit Rajak - 10900221136 Arnab Jana - 10900221110
Anupam Mahato - 10900221138 Pradip Mondal - 10900221133
Soumik Mukherjee - 10900221134
 Introduction to Blockchain
Overview: How it Works:
➔ Definition: Blockchain is a way to keep ➔ Structure:
records that uses many computers at once. - Data is stored in blocks which contains a list of
These records, called transactions, are stored transactions.
in a way that makes it very hard to change - Blocks are linked together in chronological
them later. order to form a chain.
➔ Immutability:
Core Principles: - Once recorded, data in a block cannot be
➔ Decentralization: altered without altering all subsequent blocks,
- No central authority; control is distributed which requires network consensus.
across the network.
- Ensures transparency and reduces the risk Relevance to Healthcare:
of a single point of failure. ➔ Data Management and Benefits:
➔ Trust: - Secure and transparent storage of patient
- Transactions are verified by network records, improving data integrity, confidentiality,
consensus. interoperability among providers, and reducing
- Enhances trust among parties who do not administrative costs.
necessarily trust each other.
 EVOLUTION
- Introduced the concept of digital - Traditional digital currencies
currency with protocols designed to struggled with the issue of double
ensure user anonymity and prevent spending, where a single digital token
double-spending. could be spent more than once.
- Chaum’s work on e-cash and blind - Blockchain solved this problem
signatures significantly influenced the through a distributed ledger that
development of cryptocurrencies and verifies transactions across a network
blockchain technology. of nodes.

David Chaum’s Double Spending

Electronic Cash Problem
 BLOCKCHAIN ARCHITECTURE
Version
● Identifies the version of the blockchain protocol being used
● Ensures that all nodes in the network are compatible and understand the same set of rules
● Facilitates updates and improvements to the blockchain technology

Previous Block's Hash

● Contains the hash of the previous block in the chain

● Creates a link between blocks, forming a continuous and secure chain
● Ensures data integrity and immutability, as changing any data in a previous block would
invalidate the hashes of all subsequent blocks

Merkel Root Tree

● A hierarchical structure that summarizes all transactions within the block

● Enables efficient and secure verification of transactions
● Ensures that even if only one transaction changes, the root hash will be different, thus
preserving the integrity of the block

Types of Blockchain: Permissionless,Permissioned,Consortium.

 IMPORTANCE IN HEALTHCARE
Managing Healthcare Data
Blockchain offers secure, transparent solutions.

Key Features:

1. Integrity and Confidentiality of Patient Records:

- Ensures data is accurate and protected from unauthorized access.
2. Decentralized Data Storage:
- Prevents single points of failure, enhancing data availability.
3. Immutable Ledgers:
- Records cannot be altered once added, ensuring trust and traceability.

Benefits:
1. Enhances Interoperability
- Facilitates seamless data exchange across different healthcare systems.
2. Streamlines Processes
- Reduces administrative overhead and improves efficiency.
3. Fortifies Trust
- Builds confidence among patients and healthcare providers through transparency and security
 CHALLENGES IN HEALTHCARE DATA
MANAGEMENT
Diverse Data Sources: Data Security and Privacy Concerns:
➔ Healthcare data comes from all over the ➔ Healthcare data is super sensitive and needs to
place: hospitals, clinics, labs, wearables, and be kept secure (think HIPAA regulations).
EHRs. ➔ Protecting this data from unauthorized access
➔ Each source uses different formats, making it and breaches is a top priority.
hard to pull everything together smoothly. ➔ Traditional centralized databases are vulnerable
to cyberattacks, risking patient confidentiality
Interoperability Issues: and trust.
➔ Many healthcare systems don’t talk to each
other well. Scalability and Performance:
➔ This leads to fragmented patient records, ➔ The amount of healthcare data is exploding,
repeated data entry, and slows down care. coming from EHRs, medical imaging, genomics,
➔ Doctors often don’t have a complete view of a and IoT devices.
patient’s history, causing delays in treatment ➔ Traditional systems often can’t handle the load
and coordination. efficiently, leading to slowdowns and delays.
➔ We need scalable solutions to store, process,
and analyze big data quickly and reliably.
 PRIOR RESEARCH IN HEALTHCARE

Challenges in Data Management

● Diverse Sources: Healthcare data comes from hospitals, clinics, wearables, and EHRs, posing
integration challenges.
● Interoperability Issues: Siloed data leads to inefficiencies and delays in treatment due to lack of
seamless sharing.
Blockchain Solutions for Data Sharing

● Definitions: CDOs, EMRs, EHRs, and PHRs form the basis for blockchain integration.
● Benefits: Blockchain ensures secure, real-time access to patient data, empowering both providers
and patients.

Research Findings and Examples

● Zhang et al. (2021): Proposed blockchain technologies enhance EMR data sharing
with improved security and consistency.
● Drug Tracking: Blockchain improves drug traceability, reducing counterfeit circulation
with initiatives like MediLedger.
Use Cases in Health Information Exchange (HIE)

● Benefits: HIE reduces costs and enhances care quality by enabling seamless data exchange.
● Blockchain Solutions: Zhuang et al. (2020) demonstrate blockchain's feasibility in maintaining data
integrity in HIE.

Cybersecurity Applications

● Addressing Threats: Blockchain secures medical data and detects unauthorized access.
● Gadekallu et al.'s (2021) Study: Their blockchain-based system ensures integrity and
confidentiality of stored data.

Conclusion and Future Directions

● Current Progress: Prior research highlights blockchain's potential in healthcare data

management and cybersecurity.
● Future Directions: Focus on scalability, regulatory compliance, and seamless
integration with existing systems.
 APPLICATIONS IN DRUG TRACKING
1 2 3 4 5

Enhanced Traceability: Transparency and Regulatory Compliance Emerging Use Cases:

Accountability: Supply Chain Optimization:
and Reporting:
Blockchain establishes an Blockchain enables new
Blockchain offers real-time Blockchain minimizes
unchangeable record, access to drug transaction Blockchain ensures secure applications like
paperwork errors and speeds
monitoring each drug data, ensuring transparency and auditable personalized medicine and
up transactions, while smart
transaction from production for stakeholders. Smart record-keeping, facilitating pharmacovigilance,
contracts automate contracts automate supply
to usage. Unique identifiers compliance with regulations optimizing treatment
regulatory compliance, chain rules, boosting
on the blockchain deter by providing immutable audit protocols and enhancing
enhancing accountability, coordination and visibility.
counterfeit drugs, fostering trust, and reducing trails that offer verifiable drug safety monitoring
guaranteeing authenticity fraud risks. proof of regulatory through the integration of
and quality. adherence. patient data.
 BLOCKCHAIN IN HEALTH INFO EXCHANGE

Reduces Costs Eicient Data Exchange

Minimizes duplication of tests and 01 02 Streamlines the process of sharing health
information between entities.
procedures, lowering healthcare expenses.

Improves Care Quality Secure Transactions

Enhances coordination among healthcare 04 03 Ensures data integrity and privacy through
providers, leading to better patient encryption and decentralized storage.
outcomes.

Reinforces Disease Surveillance Real-Time Access

Facilitates timely data sharing for tracking and 05 06 Provides instant, reliable access to
managing public health threats. patient records for authorized users.
 CYBERSECURITY USING BLOCKCHAIN
CHALLENGES BLOCKCHAIN-BASED
CYBERSECURITY
Sensitive Data Immutable Records
PHI is a prime target for cyber attacks, Data on a blockchain cannot be altered without
leading to identity theft and fraud. network consensus, ensuring data integrity.

Complex Infrastructure Decentralized Storage

IoT and EHR integration increases vulnerability, Distributes data across nodes, reducing single
with legacy systems often having outdated
security. points of failure and centralized vulnerabilities.

Regulatory Requirements Encryption

Compliance with HIPAA requires robust Advanced encryption methods secure
security while maintaining data data, making it unreadable without the
accessibility. correct decryption key.
 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the literature review highlights significant advancements in
blockchain implementation within healthcare, notably in Electronic Health Records
(EHR), Health Information Exchange (HIE), and cybersecurity. These studies
underscore the potential of blockchain to enhance data security, interoperability,
and protection against cyber threats. However, further research is needed to
explore scalability issues, regulatory challenges, and the integration of blockchain
with existing healthcare systems. Future studies could investigate the impact of
blockchain on patient privacy, data governance models, and the long-term
sustainability of blockchain-based healthcare solutions. By addressing these areas,
researchers can contribute to the ongoing evolution and optimization of blockchain
technology in healthcare, ultimately enhancing patient care and data management
practices.
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