Secure Sharing of Medical Imaging Through Blockchain
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63345/sjaibt.v2.i2.203Keywords:
Blockchain, Medical Imaging, Secure Data Sharing, Interoperability, IPFS, Smart Contracts, Healthcare Data SecurityAbstract
Medical imaging plays a critical role in modern healthcare, serving as the backbone for diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring of patient health conditions. However, the secure sharing of medical images such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans remains a significant challenge due to concerns over data privacy, unauthorized access, interoperability issues, and lack of trust in centralized repositories. Blockchain technology, with its decentralized, immutable, and cryptographically secure features, offers a promising solution to these challenges. This manuscript explores the design, implementation, and implications of blockchain-based frameworks for the secure sharing of medical imaging data across hospitals, diagnostic centers, and research institutions.
Through an extensive review of literature, this study examines existing approaches, limitations of traditional storage systems, and the potential role of blockchain in establishing transparent, tamper-resistant, and interoperable platforms. The methodology section discusses a hybrid blockchain architecture integrating InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), smart contracts, and access control mechanisms to enable secure storage and controlled sharing of imaging records. A prototype evaluation illustrates results regarding security, latency, interoperability, and scalability in comparison with traditional centralized systems.
The findings indicate that blockchain-enabled systems significantly reduce the risk of data breaches, ensure traceability of access, and improve patient consent management. Nonetheless, scalability limitations, high storage overheads, and regulatory uncertainties persist. The paper concludes by emphasizing the transformative potential of blockchain for medical imaging while acknowledging the need for policy frameworks, energy-efficient consensus models, and interoperability standards to ensure practical adoption.
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