Implementation and cost analysis of an efficient and secure supply chain using blockchain and smart contract

Abstract

This study and implementation focus on the complex healthcare supply chain, encompassing resource procurement, supply management, and service delivery to all the stakeholders without any geographical boundaries. It introduced a novel approach utilising Ethereum blockchain technology to establish a track-and-trace mechanism for healthcare supply chains, bolstered by smart contracts and data immutability. By leveraging smart contracts, contractual obligations are automatically executed, ensuring prompt results without intermediaries or time delays. The proposed solution addresses the prevalent issues of transparency and monitoring within conventional supply chains. The method, rooted in solidity smart contracts, undergoes rigorous testing across various inputs, culminating in an average gas cost evaluation for various functionalities of system. This innovative system meticulously tracks the lineage of goods, with an average gas cost of 18,027 for all accounts. Notably, the process incurs a gas cost of 292,000 for all operations.