Harnessing Blockchain Technology in Healthcare: A Review of Applications and Interoperability

Abstract

Using blockchain technology in the healthcare sector provides solutions to persistent problems related to data security, interoperability, and cost-effectiveness. This meta-analysis of 126 peer-reviewed articles was conducted to assess the impact of blockchain on healthcare services. The articles selected for this meta-analysis were retrieved from academic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Lens.org. Only articles published between 2018 and 2023 were included in the analysis. This study yielded positive findings, including cost-effective data management, improved patient outcomes, operational efficiency, and enhanced service quality. It was also revealed that blockchain helps secure healthcare records through immutable data integrity, decentralized authentication, and reliable access control. Regarding security and privacy in healthcare systems, blockchain technology has strengthened security measures, enhanced privacy controls, and significantly reduced the risk of unauthorized data access. However, its implementation faces challenges, including interoperability issues due to a lack of standardization, variability in data formats across different organizations, incompatibility with legacy systems, scalability concerns, and additional complexities related to regulatory compliance. Blockchain applications in healthcare include implementing interoperability standards, utilizing smart contracts for data transformation, deploying middleware solutions for seamless integration, employing sharding techniques for enhanced scalability, and establishing blockchain-based compliance protocols. This study highlights the transformational opportunities that blockchain technology presents to the healthcare ecosystem, contributing to a roadmap for future research and policy development.