DOI: https://doi.org/10.63345/ijrmp.v13.i7.2
Rajiv Doley
Independent Researcher
Arunachal Pradesh, India
Abstract
Counterfeit medicines have long plagued global healthcare systems, compromising patient safety and undermining public trust. This manuscript investigates how blockchain technology can be applied to drug authentication to combat the circulation of counterfeit drugs. By providing a decentralized, immutable ledger for tracking the lifecycle of pharmaceuticals—from manufacturing to distribution—blockchain promises enhanced transparency and security. We review existing literature up to 2021 on blockchain implementations in the pharmaceutical supply chain, discuss current challenges, and present a detailed methodology for a prototype system. Our results indicate that blockchain technology, when integrated with other digital verification methods, can significantly reduce the incidence of counterfeit drugs. The study concludes by outlining the benefits, future scope, and limitations of blockchain in this critical area.
Keywords
Blockchain; Drug Authentication; Counterfeit Medicines; Pharmaceutical Supply Chain; Decentralized Ledger; Healthcare Security
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