Enhanced Traceability and Transparency in Medical Supply Chain Management Using Blockchain-Based Customized Smart Contracts

Abstract

The medical supply chain faces challenges like counterfeit drugs, lack of transparency, and inefficient traceability. Blockchain technology, with its decentralized and secure architecture, offers a promising solution. By implementing customized smart contracts, stakeholders can ensure data integrity, improve trust, and streamline supply chain operations, enhancing overall efficiency and reliability. Counterfeit medicines and limited visibility across the medical supply chain pose significant risks to patient safety and public health. Traditional systems lack robust mechanisms to verify authenticity or ensure transparency. The need for a secure, efficient, and scalable system to trace and validate medicines in real-time has become crucial. A blockchain-based framework was developed using customized smart contracts for traceability. Each medicine is registered with unique identifiers stored on the blockchain. QR codes link physical products to the digital ledger, enabling real-time tracking and user verification. The system uses consensus mechanisms to validate transactions and ensure authenticity. Proof of Work (PoW) ensures robust security by requiring significant computational effort for transaction validation, deterring malicious activities. Proof of Stake (PoS) enhances scalability and energy efficiency, validating transactions based on a node's stake in the network. Together, these algorithms provide a balance of security, speed, and sustainability. The proposed system significantly improves traceability and transparency in the medical supply chain. Counterfeit detection rates increased, and transaction validation times decreased due to optimized algorithms. User feedback confirmed enhanced trust and reliability. The solution demonstrates scalability and adaptability for broader applications in healthcare and beyond.