Blockchain for Secure Sharing of Patient Medication Records Among Providers

Abstract

The increasing digitization of healthcare systems has amplified the need for secure, interoperable, and transparent mechanisms to share patient medication records among providers. Conventional electronic health record (EHR) systems, while effective in centralized data storage, face challenges including fragmented record access, susceptibility to breaches, and lack of trust between stakeholders. Blockchain technology offers a decentralized, tamper-evident, and cryptographically secure framework that can enhance the privacy, integrity, and interoperability of medication records. This manuscript examines the application of blockchain for secure sharing of patient medication records, analyzing its advantages over conventional architectures, consensus mechanisms for healthcare data, and compliance with regulations such as HIPAA and GDPR. A literature review identifies emerging blockchain frameworks, highlighting their potential in enabling seamless data exchange between pharmacies, hospitals, and specialists while maintaining strict access control.

The proposed methodology outlines a blockchain-based architecture integrating smart contracts, tokenized access rights, and encryption protocols for privacy preservation. Simulated results demonstrate improved data retrieval times, enhanced security metrics, and reduced reconciliation delays compared to traditional EHR networks. The study concludes that blockchain can serve as a transformative enabler of trust in multi-provider healthcare ecosystems, though considerations of scalability, governance, and interoperability standards remain critical for real-world adoption.