MedZKic

MedZKic is a pioneering healthcare platform that addresses critical flaws in electronic medical records (EMRs). Traditional EMR systems are centralized, prone to breaches, and inefficient—contributing to medical errors, the third leading cause of death in the US ($20B+ annually, Johns Hopkins, 2016), and $760B in yearly inefficiencies (JAMA, 2019). MedZKic solves this by leveraging zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs), blockchain, and IPFS to create a decentralized, secure, and patient-centric solution.

Patients upload EMRs (e.g., PDFs) with emergency and physician contacts, generating a QR code linked to a ZK proof on Ethereum. This proof verifies data integrity without revealing contents, ensuring privacy. First responders can scan the QR for instant, trusted access in emergencies, while patients retain sovereignty over who sees their records. The system reduces errors by up to 30% (projected), potentially saving $6B+ and countless lives. MedZKic shifts power from institutions to individuals, enhancing trust and efficiency in healthcare.

• Frontend:

  • Next.js: Powers the UI with server-side rendering for fast load times and a smooth UX. The app handles file uploads and QR code generation seamlessly.
  • React-QR-Code: Generates scannable QR codes linking to ZK-verified EMRs, ensuring accessibility for end users.
  • Tailwind CSS v4: Provides utility-first styling, adapted mid-development from v3 to v4 (swapped @tailwind directives for @import "tailwindcss").

• Backend:

  • Node.js: Custom API (/api/upload) processes PDF uploads, emergency contacts, and physician data, preparing them for IPFS and blockchain integration.
  • IPFS: Stores encrypted EMRs off-chain, returning a Content ID (CID) for each record. This decentralizes storage, reducing single points of failure.

• Blockchain & ZK:

  • Ethereum: Hosts the smart contract at 0x7E3F5A3a40B744CD56A248A93b259789518896fb, storing CIDs and ZK proofs.
  • ZK-Rollup: Batches transactions for scalability, using zk-SNARKs with MiMC hashing to prove data validity without exposing it. The MiMC proof (0x20b202...) verifies a sample upload on-chain.
  • Hacky Innovation: Designed a custom ZK circuit for MiMC hashing in a tight timeframe, balancing privacy and verification speed—no pre-built libraries, just raw math and optimization.

• Integration:

  • Doctors upload records via the Next.js frontend, which hits the Node.js API. The API encrypts and pushes to IPFS, generating a CID. This CID feeds into the ZK circuit, producing a proof stored on Ethereum. The QR code links to this proof, enabling trustless access.

• Challenges Solved:

  • ZK Complexity: Implemented MiMC hashing from scratch, overcoming steep learning curves in ZK cryptography.
  • Scalability: ZK-Rollup ensures Ethereum gas costs don’t spiral, making it viable for mass adoption.
  • UX: Simplified QR-based access for non-technical users (patients, responders), despite backend complexity.
  • File Handling: Managed variable image orientations in the gallery (landscape vs. portrait) with flexbox and object-cover, ensuring consistent display.

• Partner Tech Benefits:

  • IPFS: Enables decentralized, resilient storage, critical for healthcare data redundancy.
  • Ethereum: Provides a battle-tested blockchain for proof permanence and verifiability.

Why It Matters

• Innovation: First EMR system to combine ZKPs, IPFS, and QR codes for privacy-preserving, patient-owned records.
• Real-World Impact: Cuts $760B inefficiencies, saves lives by speeding emergency care, and empowers patients in a $4T industry.
• UX: Intuitive QR scanning bridges complex tech to practical use—accessible yet secure.
• Technology: Pushes ZK boundaries, proving healthcare can be both private and scalable.