Blockchain-Driven Decentralization of Electronic Health Records in Saudi Arabia: An Ethereum-Based Framework for Enhanced Security and Patient Control

In the rapidly evolving landscape of e-HealthCare in Saudi Arabia, enhancing the security and integrity of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is imperative. Existing systems encounter challenges stemming from centralized storage, vulnerable data integrity, susceptibility to power failures, and issues of ownership by entities other than the patients themselves. Moreover, the sharing of sensitive patient information among anonymous bodies exacerbates the vulnerability of these records. In response to these challenges, this paper advocates for the transformative potential of blockchain technology. Blockchain, with its decentralized and distributed architecture, offers a revolutionary approach to communication among network nodes, eliminating the need for a central authority. This paper proposes a solution that places the patient at the forefront, empowering them as the primary controller of their medical data. The research delves into the current state of e-HealthCare in Saudi Arabia, examines the challenges faced by existing EHR systems, and introduces blockchain technology, particularly Ethereum, as a viable and transformative solution. The paper details the use of Ethereum blockchain to secure and manage medical records, with a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) applied to safeguard the confidentiality of patient information. The decentralized InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) is employed for the secure and resilient storage of encrypted medical records. Additionally, Smart contracts, integral to the Ethereum blockchain, play a central role in automating and enforcing the rules governing access to medical records. Moreover, a Web 3.0 decentralized application (DApp) is developed to provide a user-friendly interface, empowering patients to seamlessly interact with and control access to their health data. At the end, this paper presents a guiding framework for clinicians, policymakers, and academics, illustrating the transformative potential of blockchain and associated technologies in systems.