Blockchain in Tracing and Securing Medical Supplies
Tamanna Rai, Rishabha Malviya, Niranjan Kaushik, Pramod Kumar Sharma · 2023
Blockchain technology has lately gained popularity due to its ability to improve the security, dependability, and robustness of distributed systems. Studies using this technology have benefited several sectors, including business, radar systems, data analysis, and healthcare, to name a few. The key benefits of blockchain are its decentralized nature and the fact that it uses a blockchain network to ensure that data is always accurate and secure without sacrificing privacy or openness. This chapter aims to summarize the various applications of blockchain technology to the issue of supply chain management, with specific attention paid to the tracking of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and human body fluids and tissues. Drugs that do not contain the intended active components may cause significant harm or even death to the end consumer patient if the correct and active pharmaceutical ingredients are not traced during manufacturing. Blockchain’s advanced properties make it an ideal basis for end-to-end drug traceability, from manufacturing to distribution. This article aims to highlight the potential benefits of blockchain technology for the tracking and security of pharmaceutical products.