Healthcare
Research Papers
Academic and industry research
Blockchain technology in healthcare: A systematic review
H. Saeed, M. A. Al-Hadhrami, A. A. Al-Hadhrami
The authors perform a thorough systematic review of blockchain technology applied to healthcare, examining the peer-reviewed evidence regarding its capacity to solve existing challenges in medical data management. By rigorously filtering existing studies based on clinical impact and technical viability, the review highlights that blockchain's primary value proposition lies in secure, immutable data verification and user-centric permission management. The paper contrasts different blockchain types—permissionless vs. permissioned—and assesses their appropriateness for clinical and administrative healthcare use cases. Key insights from the review include the necessity of interoperability standards, which remain largely absent in current prototypes. The paper provides a balanced view that helps practitioners distinguish between blockchain's potential for revolutionizing health record portability and the reality of technical deployment hurdles. It serves as a vital reference point for academic and policy-oriented discussions regarding the standardization and regulatory frameworks required to mature this sector.
Blockchain for Healthcare Cybersecurity: Opportunities and Vulnerabilities in Decentralized Health Data Systems
O. Awobeku, A. O. Ojo
This paper investigates the cybersecurity implications of utilizing blockchain in healthcare, analyzing both the security enhancements it offers and the unique vulnerabilities it introduces. The authors examine attack vectors such as 51% attacks, private key management issues, and smart contract exploits, specifically within the context of sensitive medical data. While acknowledging that blockchain can effectively mitigate issues like single points of failure, the research highlights that decentralized systems do not inherently guarantee total security, especially regarding the 'oracles' used to bring external clinical data into the chain. The study offers a nuanced perspective on the 'security-convenience' trade-off and proposes robust architectural defenses, such as multi-signature schemes and enhanced encryption protocols, to secure decentralized health networks. This work is essential for security engineers and cybersecurity analysts tasked with building resilient medical blockchain infrastructures in an increasingly adversarial digital landscape.
Blockchain Technology in Healthcare: A Comprehensive Review and Directions for Future Research
A. Haleem, M. Javaid, M. A. Khan
This paper offers a broad overview of blockchain's utility in the healthcare sector, moving beyond basic data management to explore complex applications such as clinical trials, medical record portability, and drug verification. The authors utilize a multidimensional approach to evaluate how blockchain's decentralized structure offers inherent advantages over legacy centralized databases, particularly in preventing data tampering and ensuring transactional trust. Through a critical analysis of current limitations—such as latency, energy consumption, and high costs—the authors provide a roadmap for future development. They emphasize the integration of blockchain with other emerging technologies like the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The contribution is significant for its holistic perspective, balancing technological optimism with practical engineering constraints, and providing a foundation for stakeholders to evaluate where blockchain offers genuine value over traditional database technologies.