Unleashing the Potential of Permissioned Blockchain: Addressing Privacy, Security, and Interoperability Concerns in Healthcare Data Management

Blockchain technology leverages a cryptographic system to provide secure and immutable storage of transaction histories within a decentralised framework. While various industries have demonstrated interest in integrating blockchain into their IT systems, concerns regarding accessibility, privacy, performance, and scalability persist. Permissioned blockchain frameworks offer a viable solution for securing confidential records. Extensive research has been conducted to explore the opportunities, challenges, application areas, and performance evaluations of different public and permissioned blockchain platforms. Given the sensitive nature of medical information, healthcare organisations must adhere to various legal obligations, including HIPAA regulations, to protect these data. Although navigating these requirements can be challenging, it is crucial for safeguarding the reputation of healthcare providers, maintaining patient trust, and avoiding legal repercussions. Permissioned blockchains represent decentralised digital ledgers tailored to collaborate among businesses and organisations. Their popularity has increased significantly in recent years, resulting in the availability of several leading options, such as Hyperledger Fabric, Corda, Quorum, and MultiChain. Each of these platforms presents its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Although blockchain technology remains relatively nascent in the permissioned realm, several factors warrant consideration when comparing these platforms. This study will review the existing landscape of blockchain technologies in healthcare applications and identify the research scopes. This research aims to determine how permissioned blockchain technology can effectively fulfil the requirements for managing healthcare data.