Abstract:
Healthcare data management faces significant challenges related to security, privacy, and
patient autonomy in an increasingly digital environment. This research introduces MedBlock,
a decentralized blockchain-based framework designed to revolutionize consent management in
healthcare systems. The study addresses fundamental limitations in traditional Electronic
Health Record (EHR) systems, including centralized vulnerabilities, inefficient data sharing
mechanisms, and inadequate patient control over medical records. Using a hybrid
architecture that combines Ethereum blockchain with off-chain storage solutions (IPFS and
MongoDB), MedBlock enables patients to dynamically grant, modify, and revoke access
to their medical records in real-time. The implementation incorporates AES-256-GCM
encryption to ensure confidentiality and tamper-proof storage of off-chain medical data, while
Solidity smart contracts provide immutable and transparent logging of consent transactions.
Performance evaluation demonstrates that the system successfully balances security
requirements with scalability considerations by optimizing storage utilization and reducing
blockchain network gas costs. The research contributes to healthcare informatics by
introducing a patient-centric model that enhances data security while maintaining regulatory
compliance and improving usability through modern frontend frameworks. MedBlock
represents a significant advancement in decentralized healthcare data management, providing
a viable alternative to traditional consent systems that empowers patients while ensuring the
integrity and security of sensitive medical information.
