IoT-Blockchain Integration for Optimizing the Performance of E-Health Systems: A Framework Design
Deepak Singla, Sanjeev Kumar, Shipra Goel · 2024
In the era of the Internet of Things (IoT), e-health has garnered significant attention among researchers. However, patient privacy has become a paramount concern due to the sensitivity of medical information. Presently, patient data predominantly resides in cloud-based healthcare systems, leaving users with limited control over their personal data. The escalating number of security breaches and privacy violations underscores the vulnerabilities of the traditional model, where third parties accumulate and manage vast troves of healthcare data. This study addresses these challenges by leveraging blockchain technology. We present a blockchain-based protocol designed specifically for e-health applications, which eliminates the requirement for third-party trust while providing an effective privacy-preserving access control mechanism. Unlike Bitcoin, our system’s transactions are not solely financial, and we depart from conventional consensus methods like Proof of Work (PoW), recognizing their incompatibility with IoT device limitations. Our approach enhances network security, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Lastly, we provide a thorough security and privacy analysis, aiming to reshape the landscape of healthcare data management and security in the IoT-driven e-health domain.