6 Blockchain Solutions in Healthcare: Fighting Counterfitting and Supply Chain Failures

A recent review published in the HighTech and Innovation Journal explores how blockchain can be actively applied across the healthcare supply chain to tackle their biggest pain points: transparency, efficiency, and security.
We focus on 6 of these solutions below, with the goal of highlighting, and hopefully inspire the adoption of, these frameworks.

1. Blockchain for Vaccine Traceability and Safety

In our first study, researchers proposed a blockchain-cloud system that could enhance vaccine traceability and prevent counterfeit distribution. Each vaccine dose is assigned a unique digital identity, which would allow anyone involved to track its journey from production to administration. Smart contracts are used to verify the data at every touchpoint, ensuring only accurate and validated records are recorded. This solution also allows to easily spot and trace quality issues, making it highly relevant for rapid deployment situations. This solution could greatly improve the operational efficiency of vaccine producers and is something to keep an eye on as it will certainly produce a big competitive advantage to its first adopters.
Paper: Cui et al. (2023)

2. Anti-Counterfeit Drug Distribution Framework

Next, we study the development of a second framework for securing the pharmaceutical supply chain. Enhanced with smart contracts, the system enables real-time drug tracking and authenticity verification as well. In this case a centralized Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA) is included, acting as the supervisory node: monitoring transactions and authorizations across the chain. The framework was evaluated through a real-world case simulation, showing improved traceability and reduced risks of counterfeit drug infiltration. This solution demonstrates how blockchain can bring both transparency and control to a traditionally opaque process.
Paper: Humayun et al. (2022)

3. Blockchain for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Supply Chain

We then move to a solution that touches the industry of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This method would have mitigated shortages of goods registered during the COVID-19 pandemic by introducing a blockchain-based tracking system. Utilizing smart contracts and decentralized storage via IPFS, this framework provides end-to-end visibility for items like gloves, masks, and face shields. It ensures authenticity, prevents fraud, and enhances coordination among supply chain partners. This blockchain implementation can be invaluable for all industries that require PPE for operations and need a robust and granular validation system to ensure quality standards.
Paper: Omar et al. (2022)

4. Decentralized Manufacturing of Medical Devices Using Blockchain

To address the delays and quality concerns in medical equipment production, our fourth study proposed a decentralized digital manufacturing network based on blockchain. This system uses Ethereum and the IPFS, but can be adapted to any blockchain platforms. Their goal is to securely store IoT-generated data and design files, supporting transparent verification of manufacturing processes, allowing safe, local production of medical supplies. This solution is particularly effective for ensuring traceability and reliability in the creation of essential tools like ventilators and diagnostic devices when centralized supply chains break down.
Paper: Alkhader et al. (2021)

5. Cloud-Based Blockchain to Combat Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals

Researcher Mani and their assistants introduced a cloud-based blockchain architecture to identify and prevent counterfeit drugs in the supply chain. Their framework integrates smart contracts, attribute-based access control, and secure data sharing protocols to maintain privacy while ensuring transparency. The solution allows stakeholders manufacturers, distributors, and regulators to collaborate in real-time, flagging anomalies and verifying the provenance of pharmaceutical products. Its cloud integration also supports scalability, making it adaptable for large-scale deployments in the pharmaceutical industry.
Paper: Mani et al. (2022)

6. Blockchain for Blood and Plasma Supply Chain Management

Our final research tackled the challenges of blood product logistics by developing a blockchain-powered solution known as the Blood and Product-Chain. This model enhances traceability, accountability, and security across the blood supply chain. From donation to transfusion, each unit of blood is logged and verified, reducing the risk of forgery, mislabeling, or spoilage. The system is especially useful for minimizing delays and ensuring data reliability in critical medical procedures involving blood and plasma products, a solution that can potentially save lives.
Paper: Trong et al. (2022)