Blockchain for Global Health Records Management

Objective

To create a secure, interoperable, and patient-controlled health records system using blockchain technology, enabling seamless and trustworthy access to medical data across borders and healthcare providers.

Key Features

Decentralized Health Records: Health data stored or referenced via blockchain to ensure integrity and accessibility.

Patient-Centric Access Control: Patients own their health data and control who can access it.

Interoperability: Standardized formats (like HL7/FHIR) to enable cross-system data sharing.

Immutable Audit Trails: Every access, update, or change is logged transparently.

Encrypted Off-Chain Storage: Sensitive medical records stored securely off-chain with on-chain references/hashes.

Cross-Border Access: Enables global access to verified medical data in emergencies or travel.

Technologies Used

Blockchain Platforms: Hyperledger Fabric, Ethereum (private/permissioned), or Polygon

Smart Contract Language: Solidity (Ethereum), Chaincode (Hyperledger)

Data Standards: HL7, FHIR (for healthcare interoperability)

Storage: IPFS, BigchainDB, or encrypted cloud storage with blockchain pointers

Frontend: Angular or React.js (for healthcare portals)

Backend: Node.js or Python (Flask/Django)

Identity Management: Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs), OAuth, or blockchain-based identity systems

How It Works

Patient Enrollment: Users register and link their medical identity to a blockchain wallet or ID.

Data Entry: Hospitals or clinics upload encrypted health records; a hash and access metadata are stored on-chain.

Access Control: Patients grant or revoke access to their records using smart contracts.

Verification & Sharing: Doctors and institutions can verify data authenticity via blockchain and request access.

Audit Trail Logging: Every interaction with health data is timestamped and stored immutably.

Global Synchronization: Authorized providers across countries can access consistent, verified records.

Benefits

Security & Privacy: Strong encryption and blockchain integrity reduce data breaches.

Data Ownership: Patients have full control over their medical history.

Efficiency: Reduces paperwork, delays, and redundant testing.

Interoperability: Standard formats enable smooth cross-platform data exchange.

Transparency & Trust: Immutable logs ensure accountability among healthcare providers.