What is the Origin of Decentralized Identity?

The concept originates from the field of computer science and cryptography, particularly blockchain technology, and has been adopted by health informatics in response to escalating concerns over data breaches, privacy violations, and poor interoperability in traditional health systems. Its development is driven by the ethical imperative to restore patient autonomy over highly sensitive medical and genetic data. The underlying principle is that the individual, not the institution, is the ultimate owner of their health record.

What is the Mechanism of Decentralized Identity?

The mechanism relies on the creation of a unique Decentralized Identifier for the patient, which is stored on a distributed ledger, while the actual sensitive health data remains securely stored off-chain in encrypted formats. Patients use verifiable credentials, which are cryptographically signed by trusted issuers like hospitals or labs, to prove claims about their identity or health status without revealing unnecessary personal details. This process enables secure, consent-based, and auditable data exchange across fragmented healthcare networks.

Decentralized Identity

Meaning

Decentralized Identity in the healthcare domain refers to a patient-centric model of digital identity management where individuals maintain sovereign control over their personal health information and credentials. This framework utilizes distributed ledger technology, such as blockchain, to securely store and verify identity attributes and medical records, moving away from reliance on vulnerable, centralized institutional databases. The model empowers patients to grant or revoke selective access to their data for specific providers or research initiatives.