Towards a Blockchain-Based Healthcare Information System : Invited Paper

Abstract

Healthcare information systems are the next big application area for Blockchain technology. However, straightforward extensions of existing digital cryptocurrency systems such as Bitcoin and Ethereum results in systems that are unsuitable for the challenges posed by healthcare systems. In this paper, we propose an architecture for a blockchain-based healthcare information system in which block validation is performed through collective signatures initiated by a designated leader and executed by a pool of witnesses. Furthermore, we describe a smart-contract based approach that allows data owners to explicitly grant or revoke authorizations for other actors to access healthcare data. All accesses, successful or not, are recorded on the blockchain as separate transactions, thus ensuring transparency and privacy protection.