Enhancing Personal Health Record Security Through Blockchain-Based Authentication

Abstract

Authentication plays a crucial role in ensuring the security and privacy of sensitive information in various domains, including healthcare. In traditional Personal Health Record (PHR) systems, patients often lack control over their health records as these systems are managed by a central authority. This centralization renders PHRs susceptible to data breaches, unauthorized access, tampering, and misuse. Blockchain technology, due to its decentralized and immutable characteristics, presents a viable way to improve the security and privacy of PHR systems. This paper explores the application of blockchain to develop a decentralized PHR web application. The proof of concept demonstrates how blockchain and smart contracts can be utilized to manage data access and permissions, empowering patients with control over their health records while ensuring security and transparency. Moreover, a comprehensive study was conducted to evaluate the system\'s performance, including the effectiveness of smart contracts for secure access control, the transaction flow in the blockchain network, and the robustness of the authentication mechanisms. The results highlight the feasibility and advantages of a blockchain-based approach in addressing critical challenges of traditional PHR systems.

Introduction

The rapid advancement of network information technology has significantly transformed various sectors, including healthcare. Traditional paper-based medical records have limitations such as susceptibility to damage, loss, and challenges in sharing information. To address these issues, the healthcare sector has increasingly adopted electronic health records (EHRs), which provide a structured digital platform for storing, updating, and sharing patient data.

However, current EHR systems often store data in centralized databases managed by individual institutions, limiting patients' ability to access and control their health information. Personal Health Records (PHRs) aim to empower patients by allowing them to manage their health data online. Despite their potential, existing PHR solutions are predominantly hosted on centralized servers, raising concerns about privacy, trust, and security.

Blockchain technology has emerged as a promising solution to these challenges. Its decentralized architecture, immutability, transparency, and tamper-proof mechanisms make it suitable for safeguarding sensitive medical data. By leveraging blockchain, patients can retain ownership and control over their health records while enabling authorized stakeholders to access and manage data transparently.

This study proposes a blockchain-based PHR system utilizing the Hyperledger Fabric framework, which offers a secure, decentralized, and scalable platform tailored to address the limitations of traditional PHR systems. By empowering patients with full control over their data and ensuring robust security measures, the proposed system aims to set a new standard for personal health record management.

In summary, the integration of blockchain technology, specifically through the Hyperledger Fabric framework, into PHR systems offers a promising approach to enhancing data security, patient autonomy, and interoperability in healthcare. This paradigm shift has the potential to revolutionize the management and sharing of health information, ultimately leading to improved healthcare outcomes.

Conclusion

This paper presents a blockchain-based Personal Health Record (PHR) system designed to address the challenges of security, privacy, and user control inherent in traditional centralized systems. By leveraging Hyperledger Fabric, the system ensures decentralization, data integrity, and transparent access management. Patients are empowered to control their health records through smart contracts, enabling secure and auditable interactions. A study evaluating the system demonstrated high usability, user confidence in data security, and a willingness to adopt blockchain for managing personal health records. This work provides a scalable and secure foundation for decentralized healthcare systems, with future opportunities for expanding interoperability and enhancing system performance.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Ibrahim K.Q. Farea, Ahmed.N.A.A. Hassan. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.