| The current healthcare landscape is characterized by fragmented electronic health record (EHR) systems, a lack of interoperability between institutions, and limited patient control over their health data. As a result, patients often experience delays in treatment due to the redundancy of providing medical information each time they visit a new facility. This inefficiency not only increases the administrative burden on healthcare providers but also exposes sensitive medical data to risks such as data breaches and unauthorized access. Additionally, the manual transfer of records between institutions introduces further complexity to the healthcare delivery process, ultimately compromising the quality of care and the overall patient experience. This study introduces MediCrypt, a blockchain-powered EHR system designed to address these persistent challenges. MediCrypt integrates cutting-edge technologies, including Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), to modernize and unify the management of healthcare records. By utilizing blockchain technology, MediCrypt ensures the integrity, immutability, and security of medical data, offering an innovative solution to the limitations of existing centralized systems. NFTs are used to authenticate ownership of medical records, while IPFS is employed to store large medical files off-chain securely. The development of MediCrypt followed a research-based approach, guiding the creation of the system through a structured process. The Agile Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) was adopted to ensure iterative development, continuous user feedback, and timely improvements. The design and implementation phases were carefully aligned with the requirements of the Philippine Data Privacy Act of 2012, ensuring that MediCrypt complies with national regulations and protects sensitive personal health information. Usability testing was conducted in Batangas Province, with positive feedback received from both medical practitioners and patients. Participants found the system easy to understand, learn, and operate, highlighting its user-friendly interface and intuitive design. The positive responses from users indicate that MediCrypt provides significant enhancements in data management, security, and overall healthcare efficiency. MediCrypt represents a transformative step toward modernizing the Philippine healthcare system. By leveraging blockchain technology, NFTs, and IPFS, MediCrypt addresses long-standing inefficiencies in medical record management, enabling patients to have greater control over their health information and ultimately improving healthcare delivery in the country. |
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