Hyperledger fabric platform for healthcare trust relations—Proof-of-Concept

Abstract

In recent years, blockchain technologies have expanded from the finance field to other areas that rely on trust-based solutions. The healthcare industry represents one such area, as digital transformation disrupts relationships between patients, healthcare professionals, and healthcare institutes. Patients and healthcare institutes lack a proficient tool to verify the credentials of medical professionals in a digital environment. Furthermore, healthcare professionals lack a tool where they are in control over their credentials. The first contribution of this paper is a proposal of a solution that leverages the private permissioned Hyperledger Fabric blockchain and smart contracts to provide a source of transparent trust for relationships within the healthcare industry. Second, we pave the ground for GDPR compliance by storing only the hash values on the blockchain. Third, we solve the problem of patient authentication by utilizing cryptographic techniques. Finally, we prove the usability of the proposed solution by implementing a user interface and creating a live deployment.