Deployment of Quantum-Safe Cryptographic Algorithms in Healthcare Cyber-Physical Systems for Protecting Sensitive Medical Data and Mitigating Post-Quantum Threats Through Robust Key Management Protocols

The healthcare sector increasingly relies on Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) that integrate medical devices, networks, and digital records to deliver critical patient care. Protecting sensitive medical data within these interconnected systems is vital due to potential privacy violations and safety risks. The initiation of quantum computing poses substantial threats to traditional cryptographic algorithms, which underpin current healthcare data security. This article examines the deployment of quantum-safe cryptographic algorithms considered to resist quantum attacks, enabling robust protection of healthcare CPS. It highlights advanced encryption methods including lattice-based, hash-based, and code-based post-quantum schemes, alongside quantum key distribution (QKD) for secure key management. The discussion includes challenges related to healthcare-specific system constraints, regulatory compliance, and integration complexity. Through adopting quantum-resistant cryptography and comprehensive key management protocols, healthcare organizations can safeguard electronic health records (EHRs), device communication, and patient data against incipient post-quantum threats, ensuring long-term data confidentiality, integrity, and system resilience.