A Systematic Review of Blockchain Applications in Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Traceability and Security

Abstract

The pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC) encounters significant challenges, including inefficiencies, lack of transparency, and security vulnerabilities, which facilitate the proliferation of counterfeit drugs and pose serious health risks to patients. Traditional systems, such as centralized databases, barcodes, QR codes, RFID technology, and ERP systems, have been employed for control and traceability but demonstrate substantial limitations. This systematic review examines the transformative potential of blockchain technology to address these critical issues and enhance PSC traceability, security, and efficiency. Blockchain technology, with its core properties of decentralization, immutability, and transparency, offers robust solutions for improving drug authenticity and securing sensitive data. This review highlights the benefits of blockchain implementations through various case studies and pilot projects. It emphasizes the need for future research in scalable, cost-effective methods that balance transparency and data privacy. By overcoming these challenges, blockchain can revolutionize the PSC, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, countering the risks of counterfeit drugs, and constructing a more resilient and trustworthy supply chain. The integration of blockchain technology in the PSC holds immense potential to enhance security, efficiency, and transparency, thereby safeguarding public health and restoring stakeholder confidence in pharmaceutical products. This systematic review aims to bridge the gap by providing comprehensive insights into the transformative capabilities of blockchain technology in the pharmaceutical sector.