Drug Traceability in Supply Chain of Healthcare using Blockchain-Based Approach

Abstract

The supplychain for healthcare is an intricate web of inter connected businesses that includes manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies, hospitals, patients, and suppliersofrawmaterials.Duetoanumberofissues,suchascentralisedcontrol,conflictingstakeholder conduct, and a lack of information, tracking supply across this network is difficult. In additiontocreatinginefficiencieslikethosebroughttolightbytheCOVID-19pandemic[1], this complexity can make it more difficult to mitigate the problem of counterfeit pharmaceuticalsbecausetheycanquicklyinfiltratethehealthcaresupplychain.Drugsthat are intentionally manufactured fraudulently and/or mislabeled with regard to identity and/or source in order to pass for authentic goods are known as counterfeit drugs[2][3]. These prescriptions may include those with no active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), the wrong dosage, the wrong kind of API, a pollutants, or repackaged goods that have expired. It is possible forcertainfake drugs to be manufactured under unsatisfactory circumstances and with improper formulations[4].