Quantum image encryption protocol for secure communication in healthcare networks

Maintaining patient confidentiality and ensuring data integrity are critical aspects of healthcare information security. In response to the growing need for enhanced security measures in the transmission and storage of medical images, the current study introduces a novel framework utilizing chaos-based quantum encryption. It enhances security in medical image transmission and storage. The proposed work presents a novel approach to quantum image encryption, integrating chaotic map and gray coding techniques. Specifically, it leverages quantum gray coding to obscure image data, followed by a quantum XOR operation using a key generated through the logistic- \(\sin\) $sin$ map for secure encryption. The encryption and decryption procedures leverage an NEQR quantum image representation. Simulations conducted in MATLAB assess the efficacy of the proposed image encryption protocol from both theoretical and statistical perspectives. The results demonstrate robust encryption performance, as evidenced by metrics such as an entropy value of 7.99, an UACI of 33.54%, an NPCR of 99.6%, and negative correlation coefficient values. The proposed scheme effectively decrypted tampered images, successfully recovering the maximum amount of information, as evidenced by tests with 50% data occlusion from encrypted images. These results emphasize the superior reliability, feasibility, and efficiency of the proposed quantum encryption protocol in securing medical image data during transmission and storage.