Blockchain in e‐Healthcare

In the healthcare sector, the privacy of confidential patient data is a primary concern. Blockchain's decentralized management and cryptographic techniques enhance patient data security by discouraging unauthorized access and reducing the likelihood of data leaks. The use of blockchain technology in e-health is transforming healthcare by increasing data security, patient privacy, and interoperability. Various approaches such as homomorphic encryption, k-anonymity, and differential privacy have been utilized since long ago to ensure safe sharing, storage, and utilization of medical data. The application of blockchain technology in health care has arrived as an innovative force, addressing major challenges related to data security, privacy, and efficacy in e-health systems. Estonia's healthcare (MFFSIA) blockchain-based real use case is addressed in this chapter, which considers consent management and access control based on roles. Data-sharing mechanisms secured are also discussed, enabling cross-institutional collaboration while ensuring regulatory compliance. In totality, the chapter discusses blockchain's role in managing healthcare data, its advantages over traditional systems, and its diverse applications.