Harnessing Blockchain to Combat Counterfeit Drugs: A Global Framework for Secure Pharmaceutical Supply Chains

The proliferation of counterfeit pharmaceuticals poses a significant threat to global health, necessitating innovative solutions to secure pharmaceutical supply chains. This study explores the application of blockchain technology as a robust framework for enhancing drug traceability, security, and transparency across multinational supply networks. Leveraging a permissioned blockchain architecture, the proposed system integrates smart contracts and adheres to international data standards (GS۱, HL۷ FHIR) to ensure interoperability with existing legacy systems. Empirical evaluation demonstrated the framework’s capability to sustain transaction throughput exceeding ۶۰۰ transactions per second, maintain cross-jurisdictional data privacy compliance, and dynamically adapt to evolving regulatory requirements. Stakeholder analysis revealed strong support from regulatory bodies, albeit with hesitations among small and medium enterprises due to cost and technical barriers. Practical challenges including integration complexity, regulatory ambiguity, and the need for targeted training were identified as critical factors influencing adoption. The modular design of the blockchain solution facilitates phased implementation and customizable governance, addressing both technological and organizational constraints. This research provides a comprehensive methodological approach, combining quantitative performance metrics with qualitative stakeholder insights to validate blockchain’s transformative potential in combating counterfeit drugs. Findings underscore the necessity for international regulatory harmonization, capacity building, and collaborative governance to realize effective blockchain adoption in pharmaceutical supply chains. The study contributes a scalable, secure, and transparent model that can serve as a foundation for future developments in healthcare supply chain management, advancing global efforts to ensure drug authenticity and patient safety.

کلیدواژه ها:

Blockchain ، Pharmaceutical supply chain ، Drug traceability ، Counterfeit prevention ، Interoperability