Design and Development of a Blockchain-Based System to Protect Medical Records

The "BlockCare" addresses the growing challenge of managing and accessing personal health records scattered across various healthcare providers. Patients often struggle with fragmented and inaccessible health information, leading to delays and potential errors in their care.^1,2 We have expanded the system's technical architecture to ensure interoperability and compliance with global healthcare regulations. BlockCare offers a secure, centralized platform where users can store, manage, and easily access their complete health data, including medical history, lab results, and treatment records.^3,4 Detailed security mechanisms such as cryptographic hashing, multi-signature authentication, and a decentralized access control model have been incorporated.⁵ Utilizing advanced encryption and robust authentication methods, the app ensures the highest level of data privacy and security.^6,7 It integrates seamlessly with different healthcare systems, providing real-time updates and allowing users to share their information effortlessly with healthcare professionals.⁸ The intuitive interface simplifies the process of retrieving and managing health records, empowering patients to make informed decisions about their care and improving overall care coordination.^9,10 The manuscript now discusses compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability and General Data Protection Regulation, ensuring legal and ethical handling of sensitive health data.¹¹ Countries like Greece, where comprehensive regulatory frameworks for electronic health record (her) adoption are still emerging, could greatly benefit from decentralized health record solutions like BlockCare.