A healthcare data management system: blockchain-enabled IPFS providing algorithmic solutions for increased privacy-preserving scalability and interoperability

Finding a secure and efficient approach to sharing large volumes of healthcare data has been a critical challenge. Early solutions utilizing centralized cloud-based systems were plagued by security risks, privacy concerns, and system failures. Decentralized blockchain-based systems emerged to address these issues but struggled with scalability, especially when managing complex healthcare data such as medical imaging. To overcome these limitations, this paper proposes a novel healthcare data management system integrating blockchain with the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) and employing Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) for secure key exchange. The system enhances data privacy through a custom authentication algorithm while maintaining scalability and interoperability. The proposed solution ensures decentralized storage of healthcare data, provides secure access control and supports large-scale medical datasets, including images. To evaluate its performance, the system was rigorously tested using performance monitoring and a novel benchmarking technique, focusing on key metrics like throughput, latency, and transaction cost. Results indicate significant improvements in security, scalability, and efficiency compared to existing frameworks, achieving up to 29 transactions per second with a mean latency of 0.11 s. The system’s gas cost for different functions was optimized, and it maintained consistent performance under increased transaction loads. Additionally, it supports seamless integration with existing healthcare standards, making it suitable for real-world deployment. The proposed framework offers a secure, scalable, and interoperable solution for decentralized healthcare data management, paving the way for future improvements in the field.