Blockchain Applications in Core Healthcare Services: Patient Data, Research, and Institutional Processes.

Abstract

Objective: This research aims to systematically examine the application of blockchain technology in core primary healthcare services, with a particular focus on its ability to enhance data integrity, transparency, and operational efficiency. The objective is to identify and analyze the primary areas where blockchain is being utilized within the health sciences and to evaluate its contributions to secure patient consent, reliable data verification, and the protection of sensitive health information.

Methods: This study conducted a systematic literature review of research and review articles indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection between January 10 and March 15, 2025. Articles were selected based on predefined search strings targeting blockchain applications in health sciences, as detailed in the search strategy (Figure 1). Bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewer and the Biblioshiny interface of R Bibliometrix to identify thematic areas, keyword co-occurrences, and research trends. Overlay and network visualizations were used to reveal temporal patterns and relational structures among keywords. To enhance the scope of the review, supplementary searches were also conducted via Google Scholar, providing additional insight into emerging topics not yet indexed in Web of Science.

Results: The analysis revealed eight major thematic areas where blockchain is prominently applied: secure patient consent and data management, healthcare supply chain processes, clinical research and monitoring, legal and intellectual property concerns, disease tracking and epidemiological management including COVID-19, insurance and billing systems, organ transplantation logistics, and applications in cancer and pharmaceutical research. The data demonstrate an increasing focus on blockchain's role in enhancing transparency and accountability in both institutional and patient-centered healthcare services.

Conclusions: Blockchain holds considerable promise for advancing healthcare systems. However, its effective implementation depends on a comprehensive approach that combines technological innovation with supportive policy frameworks and ethical considerations. These findings provide valuable guidance for stakeholders seeking to integrate blockchain in health service delivery.