Blockchain‐Enabled Healthcare Ecosystems

Blockchain holds promise in enhancing healthcare services by facilitating communication, safeguarding data, and devising new models of care delivery. Still, some challenges remain that must be addressed in order to reap all the benefits. In this paper, the authors address the challenges of scaling, security, and interoperability for a blockchain-based healthcare system. Unlike other industries, healthcare is bombarded with an influx of data every day, which makes scalability the most critical issue for blockchain systems. Healthcare blockchains face so many data challenges each day. Traditional blockchain networks such as Bitcoin and Ethereum face limitations in their scalability due to the consensus algorithms they use. Healthcare blockchains are exploring solutions such as sharding and off-chain transfers, which could make blockchains more scalable. These two techniques seek to alleviate network congestion, either by splitting the network into smaller pieces or by executing transactions outside the main network. The confidentiality of patient information poses other risks with regard to security. Because blockchain is immutable, it does provide a measure of security by safeguarding sensitive patient information from changes, as well as unauthorized access on account of cryptographic protections that can be put in place. In order to improve the security of blockchain-based healthcare systems, secret key protection, contracts that are self-executing, and threats such as the 51% attack should be dealt with. The blockchain's interoperability can be enhanced by enabling different systems to share data in a secure way. Sending and receiving information make it easier to understand how different systems and providers of healthcare work. Healthcare environments could benefit from blockchain technology due to its potential to enhance security, scalability, and system integration. Nevertheless, there are many other issues that should be handled first. If we are to integrate blockchain technology into healthcare systems, further research should focus on creating adaptable blockchain solutions, strengthening security measures, and advancing interfacing communication.