Securing Pharmaceutical Drug Supply Chain System using Blockchain based Hyperledger Fabric*
Jayashree S. Mohite, Vijay K. Kale · 2024
Over the past decade, pharmaceutical companies have encountered challenges in effectively tracing their products throughout the supply chain. This situation has provided an opportunity for counterfeiters to introduce their fraudulent medicines into the marketplace. Counterfeit pharmaceuticals are identified as a significant hurdle for the global pharmaceutical sector. The recent COVID-19 pandemic led to a higher demand for certain types of medicines like fever reducers, remdesivir, steroids, and vaccines. This increased demand also caused a rise in the production of poor-quality or fake medicines. These counterfeit medications not only fail to aid patients in their recovery but also pose numerous perilous side effects. According to a survey report by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that in developing countries, one in every ten medications used by customers is counterfeit and of substandard quality. Therefore, there is a pressing need for a comprehensive mechanism capable of monitor and trace drug distribution at every phase to effectively combat the issue of counterfeiting. Blockchain is fully capable of efficiently overseeing and regulating supply chain processes. Our paper introduces a functional system that utilizes blockchain to manage drug supply chains, with a focus on consumer welfare. This framework is powered by Hyperledger Fabric technology, ensuring continuous monitoring of pharmaceutical delivery processes in the industry.