Blockchain-Based Secure Medical Record Sharing with Access Control

Healthcare’s move into the digital world means patient data is piling up faster than ever. The old way—storing everything in one central spot—just isn’t safe. People can break in, mess with data, or snoop around where they shouldn’t. That puts patients at serious risk. So, here’s what this research brings to the table: a blockchain-powered system that locks down access to medical records. It tracks who’s looking and who’s not, and makes sure nothing gets changed without leaving a trail. Instead of keeping everything in a single database, this setup uses blockchain to spread out the responsibility. Access logs and permissions sit on the blockchain, making them nearly impossible to alter or fake. Testing happens in Ganache, which is just a handy local platform for building and checking smart contracts. Whenever a doctor adds or updates a record, the system creates a unique cryptographic hash and saves it on the blockchain. The real data stays elsewhere, referenced by this hash—so nobody can peek at private info by browsing the blockchain itself. It’s like locking up the details in a vault, only handing out the key to people meant to see it. Patients and doctors need that hash to prove they’re allowed in. No hash? No access. Smart contracts handle the permissions automatically—no middlemen needed, no delays, and no confusion about who’s supposed to do what. Lots of other systems are all about storing data, but this one focuses on keeping access locked tight and giving control back to the patient. Patients stay in charge of their medical info. Blockchain adds transparency, cuts down on sneaky edits, and keeps a permanent, tamper-proof record of every change. Bottom line: this model ramps up security, keeps private data truly private, and helps everyone trust the healthcare system a bit more. With blockchain, cryptographic hashing, and smart contracts working together, it’s a solid solution for keeping healthcare data safe and accessible only to the right people.