USABILITY OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY IN HEALTHCARE

Abstract

In this research, we explore how blockchain technology can improve the accuracy and security of critical healthcare data, such as electronic health records (EHRs), medical practitioner records (MPRs), telecare medical records (TMRs), Vaccination records, drug discovery and drug supply chain records. Ensuring data integrity in these records is vital for preventing harm to patients and protecting public health. Blockchain features show great potential for enabling patients to verify that records created by various healthcare organizations are reliable and trustworthy. We introduce blockchain-based systems for managing these records, providing benefits like accurate patient diagnosis, secure sharing of EHRs, and safeguarding against imposters in medical practice registration. Additionally, we propose a system for real-time fitness monitoring and medication management through blockchain and smart devices, enhancing telehealth during pandemics. Each record in our systems is secured using the SHA-256 hash algorithm and has been successfully executed, demonstrating their suitability for managing EHRs, MPRs, and TMRs. iv Another study focuses on creating a cost-effective blockchain solution for lifelong vaccination record management based on patient preference. It includes QR code-based validation and off-chain storage for scalability, offering an efficient and secure way to handle vaccination records. The smart contract has been successfully deployed and tested in the Remix IDE environment. Performance has been evaluated by analysing execution costs at different transaction sizes. In drug discovery, collaboration and data integrity are crucial. We present a Hyperledger-based blockchain application that allows organizations to securely upload, verify, and manage contributions, aided by machine learning. This system promises a more secure and efficient drug development process. In this work, we have successfully built an end-to-end decentralised drug discovery application with a front-end interface and demonstrated chaincode algorithms. The end-to-end application is not available in any previous work. Medicine counterfeiting is a global issue, and our proposal tackles it through a blockchain-based supply chain solution. Multiple organizations collaborate in a distributed network, enhancing transparency, security, and traceability. QR code watermarking adds an extra layer of security, ensuring only legitimate buyers can access products. The Caliper tool has been used to investigate throughput, latency, and resource statistics. Our simulations and performance measurements show the effectiveness of these blockchain solutions in terms of scalability, validation, throughput, latency, and resource usage, offering promising benefits in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.