Abstract
Cloud computing poses a challenge to the healthcare infrastructure, as it affects privacy, confidentiality, and security rules concerning large binary objects such as x-rays and CT scan reports. However, health records are stored and accessed using an encryption hash which is stored in the interplanetary file system (IPFS), called a peer-to-peer system. But the patient’s data is sold, share for research purposes by their healthcare providers without their knowledge as it affects their privacy and security. In the healthcare industry today, customers face the issue of health record that lacks interoperability, resulting in difficulty aggregating and examining patient data. The objective of this research is to develop cybersecurity measurement approaches that ensure patient information security by protecting against cyber threats using blockchain technology based on healthcare IT. Consequently, this paper proposes an innovative solution to the problem, namely Patient-centric healthcare data management (PCHDM). It was built using IPFS, a permissioned distributed ledger system that uses Hyperledger Fabric, which stores health records, but only with the permission of the owner. A unique cryptographic public key encryption algorithm is used to encrypt IPFS data to build an electronic health record blockchain system. Our platform offers two types of solutions: (i) a solution that utilizes a database of hyper ledger fabric, which is an on-chain database, (ii) off-chain solutions which encrypt data and store it securely off-chain using IPFS. A robust blockchain solution for PCHDM will be created by encrypting the data stored in IPFS using appropriate public key cryptographic algorithms. To determine which blocks should be incorporated into the blockchain, the Byzantine Fault Tolerance is applied in the health chain architectural model. This system hosts smart contracts and application logic as well as smart contracts known as "chain code" via container technology. As part of this research, health record hashes were stored on the blockchain and the actual health data was stored off-chain in IPFS, which is the decentralized cloud storage system that achieves scalability. Due to the encryption of healthcare records with a hash, this model proves that unauthorized access is impossible because the records are more scalable, interoperable, and reliable. Stakeholders are more confident in collaborating and sharing their medical records with this model.
Decentralized Patient Centric e- Health Record Management System using Blockchain and IPFS
