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SovereignRx: An Electronic Prescription System Based on High Privacy, Blockchain, and Self-Sovereign Identity

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Advanced Information Networking and Applications (AINA 2024)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes on Data Engineering and Communications Technologies ((LNDECT,volume 202))

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Abstract

This work provides a comprehensive review and critical analysis of blockchain-based electronic medical prescription systems, with a focus on the Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) paradigm. The comparative analysis will look at major implementations, covering features such as identification methods, data storage techniques, privacy measures, access controls, and interoperability. Risks due to the permanence of data on a blockchain and possible improvements in computing in terms of scalability and speed are presented, along with a discussion on stronger data protection measures. We introduce “SovereignRx”, a novel system that integrates SSI and blockchain technologies to address privacy concerns in healthcare prescriptions. SovereignRx uses Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) for party identification and uses distributed nodes that reduce the maintenance costs between healthcare entities. The proposed architecture, based on Hyperledger projects (Indy, Aries, and Fabric), supports secure data transportation, tracing of dispensation, and interoperability based on the FHIR standard. It utilizes data minimization, selective disclosure and biometric authentication to enable the protection of prescription information, with dispensation control and audit functionalities. Furthermore, challenges of decentralized identity adoption are addressed, along with future improvements in the usability of systems for digital health care.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência da Computação, Departamento de Informática e Estatística, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, 88040-900, Brazil

    Maurício de Vasconcelos Barros & Jean Everson Martina

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  1. Maurício de Vasconcelos Barros
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  2. Jean Everson Martina
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Correspondence to Maurício de Vasconcelos Barros .

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  1. Department of Information and Communication Engineering, Fukuoka Institute of Technology, Fukuoka, Japan

    Leonard Barolli

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Barros, M.d.V., Martina, J.E. (2024). SovereignRx: An Electronic Prescription System Based on High Privacy, Blockchain, and Self-Sovereign Identity. In: Barolli, L. (eds) Advanced Information Networking and Applications. AINA 2024. Lecture Notes on Data Engineering and Communications Technologies, vol 202. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-57916-5_32

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