Security and Privacy Challenges in Cloud-Based Telemedicine for Medical Tourism: A Systematic Literature Review

Telemedicine has witnessed rapid growth, especially in the context of medical tourism. This systematic literature review explores the security and privacy challenges associated with the integration of cloud-based telemedicine in the realm of medical tourism. The study employs the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) method to ensure a comprehensive and transparent review process. This review extensively scrutinizes scholarly articles, reports, and case studies published in reputable journals and conference proceedings from 2010 to 2024. With an in-depth assessment of over 50 papers, research highlights the advancements in telemedicine for medical tourism while shedding light on the critical issues related to data security and patient privacy. The identified challenges encompass regulatory compliance, information vulnerability, and ethical considerations. In-depth analysis of various scholarly works provides insights into the existing gaps and areas requiring attention. To address these challenges, this thesis proposes IT-based solutions aimed at enhancing the security posture and privacy measures in cloud-based telemedicine systems catering to medical tourism. These solutions encompass robust encryption protocols, secure data storage practices, and compliance frameworks tailored to the unique nature of medical tourism. In summary, this systematic literature review not only unveils the complexities surrounding the intersection of cloud-based telemedicine and medical tourism but also offers IT-based solutions to fortify the security and privacy aspects, ensuring a safer and more reliable healthcare delivery system.