A New Era of Blockchain-Based Healthcare Data Sharing

A New Era of Blockchain-Based Medical Data Sharing
– Enhancing Safety, Efficiency, and Patient Sovereignty –

"Patient A was delayed in receiving even simple emergency treatment because they couldn't find their past medical records in the emergency room.
As such, the disconnection of medical data can endanger a patient's life."

The reality of medical data scattered across hospitals and systems—now, blockchain technologyis changing the paradigm of data sharing by ensuring transparencyand security, as well as patient autonomy.
We present a healthcare innovation roadmap through abundant case studies and concrete guides below.

1. Limitations of Existing Medical Data Sharing

Fragmented Systems

• Operating different Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems → delays in treatment occur
• The inconvenience of patients having to request and send documents themselves

Vulnerability to Security and Privacy

• High risk of large-scale information leakage upon central server hacking
• Concerns about privacy infringement due to unclear consent management

Inefficiency in Costs and Time

• Administrative costs surge due to paper documents and redundant tests
• Data unavailable for immediate use in emergency situations

> Key Summary: The triple burden of fragmentation, vulnerability, and inefficiency is weighing down traditional medical data systems.

2. How Blockchain Changes Electronic Medical Record Sharing

1. Decentralization & Transparency

• Removal of single points of failure (SPOF) through distributed node storage
• Automatic recording of access rights and history with smart contracts

2. Strong Security

• Data tampering and falsification are impossible through hash integrity verification
• Verification of non-disclosure of sensitive information through zero-knowledge proof (ZKP)

3. Enhancement of Patient Sovereignty

• Complete control of personal data with Private Key
• Review of transparent data usage history based on consent

> Emphasis: Smart contracts and ZKP are key elements of security and privacy in medical data sharing.

3. Comparison of Global Regulations and Legal Frameworks

• USA: Applies HIPAA and FDA guidelines
  • Mainly in the PoC stage for startups, with a lack of clear guidelines at the federal level
• EU: GDPR and eIDAS regulations
  • Research linked to DID (Decentralized ID) is actively underway
• Korea: Review of amendments to the Personal Information Protection Act and the Medical Service Act
  • Pilot projects mainly centered on public institutions
• Estonia: X-Road infrastructure, e-Health Act
  • Successful case of nationwide electronic medical record blockchain management

> Insight: Clear regulatory guidelines are the key to rapid adoption.

4. In-depth Comparison of Blockchain Protocols

• Hyperledger (PBFT variants)
  Builds private and consortium networks with channels and cryptographic components
• Ethereum (PoW → PoS)
  Supports advanced cryptographic techniques such as zk-SNARKs and zk-STARKs
• Corda (Notary Pools)
  Maximizes data privacy with Confidential Identities

> Tip: Carefully select public, private, or consortium networks according to the size and purpose of the hospital.

5. Implementation Guide for Hospitals and Clinics

1. Preparation

• Mapping stakeholders (doctors, IT, legal)
• Deriving data types and workflow requirements
  2. Technology Selection
• Public vs. Private/Consortium Network
• Reviewing consensus algorithms and scalability
  3. Pilot Design
• Selecting target departments (internal medicine, laboratory) and data (medical certificates, images)
• Setting schedules and performance indicators (KPIs)
  4. Expansion and Verification
• Performance testing (processing speed, TPS)
• Security audits and user education
• Plans for enterprise-wide expansion and application

> Visual Proposal: An infographic showing the responsible parties and timeline at a glance.

6. Patient Perspective Case Study

Scenario: Patient B with a chronic disease undergoes a medical examination at Hospital A, and an electrocardiogram at Clinic B

• 30% reduction in waiting time for treatment
• 40% reduction in duplicate tests
• 25% increase in patient satisfaction

> Visual: A graph comparing pre- and post-improvement indicators.

7. Economic Value and ROI

• Administrative Cost Savings: Potential annual savings of 10 billion won
• New Business Models: Data marketplaces and customized insurance
• ROI Example
  • Small Hospital: Construction cost 500 million won → Annual operation 10 million won → 200 million won savings
  • General Hospital: Construction cost 2 billion won → Annual operation 50 million won → 1 billion won savings + additional revenue

> Emphasis: Medical data is now a resource and a value.

8. Future Technology Integration

• AI and Machine Learning: Advanced diagnosis and prediction models with distributed medical big data
• Digital Identity (DID): Innovation in patient authentication and access management
• IoT Integration: Secure sharing of wearable and remote monitoring data

> Metaphor: Imagine a future where AI, DID, and IoT are connected to the blockchain hub.

Conclusion: Healthcare Innovation Opens with Data Sovereignty

Blockchain-based medical data sharing is no longer an option.
It guarantees transparency, security, and patient autonomy, and leads to cost savings and the creation of new business models.

Checklist You Can Execute Right Now

• Check the EHR sharing status of hospitals and clinics
• Download the Pilot PoC proposal checklist
• Understand technical standards with FHIR and HL7 white papers

> A healthier future starts with data sovereignty.