Enhanced Blockchain for Healthcare Systems

Abstract

Blockchain has gained significant popularity in recent years due to its data integrity and wide range of applications. It has formed the backbone of cryptocurrencies like Ripple, Bitcoin, and Ethereum, while also enabling decentralized and trust-based solutions in sectors such as finance, commerce, IoT, reputation systems, and healthcare. Despite its promise, challenges like scalability, resilience, and privacy still persist. In healthcare, stringent regulatory standards such as HIPAA demand higher levels of authentication, interoperability, and secure data sharing. This article presents a comprehensive study of blockchain technology from both technical and application perspectives in the healthcare domain. It explores blockchain features, use-cases, and interoperability in healthcare, along with consensus mechanisms and platform selection. We summarize state-of-the-art research, existing healthcare blockchain applications, performance metrics, and research opportunities. Additionally, we examine potential security threats, classify attack models, and review detection and protection techniques, offering insights into enhancing blockchain's security and privacy for healthcare.