Today, the healthcare sector is suffering from multiple security vulnerabilities that make it vulnerable to various types of cyberattacks. Therefore, robust security solutions need to be implemented in order to resolve these vulnerabilities. In this context, blockchain technology has emerged as a promising solution in several sectors, including the healthcare sector. It ensures enhanced security and greater transparency. It also boosts patient confidence and optimizes operational efficiency. In this paper, we first present an overview of the main classic healthcare applications: medical records management, traceability of medicines, and research and clinical trials. We then present a detailed analysis of the critical security vulnerabilities threatening these applications. Afterwards, we explain how blockchain technology can help to address these vulnerabilities. Finally, we discuss the various possible methods that aim to prevent traditional blockchain-related attacks in these healthcare applications and how blockchain technology is impacting and transforming the healthcare sector.
Abeer Mirdad, Abdulaziz Khan, Farookh Khadeer Hussain
Blockchain technology has recently been used to provide a secure storage environment through a distributed ledger. Blockchain has increasingly been used in other sectors such as real estate and supply chains, where trust and transparency are paramount considerations. In the pharmaceutical industry, for operational efficiencies, information must be shared reliably between the various stakeholders. A significant limitation in the existing literature is the lack of work to address niche problems such as the just-in-time disposal of drugs that are close to expiry. To address this gap, we propose using blockchain technology. The architectural underpinning of the proposed system (PharmaBlock) is presented and discussed. The primary contribution of this paper is the use of an early warning system (EWS) coupled with marketplace to intelligently identify and dispose of near-expiry drugs. The EWS and marketplace are evaluated and benchmarked using an experimental setup. The result of this experimental has shown that over 90% of notifications were sent correctly and shown also more than 92% of the optimal prices were predicted correctly in PharmaBlock.
The global healthcare supply chain overcomes geographic and organizational challenges to provide patients with important medical therapies. On the other hand, the complexities of managing and sustaining the vulnerable challenges in securing the control from source to destination is a significant challenge that remains as a barrier to achieve 100% foolproof handling of drugs or medicines from source to destination or end consumers. Human health deteriorates and the healthcare industry faces significant financial loss as a consequence of the growing counterfeit pharmaceuticals, which is a direct outcome of inefficiencies in the present pharmaceutical supply chain. The existing research studies have emphasized the importance of the globalized tracking system in the pharmaceutical supply chain. A comprehensive system for tracking medications from the origin to final destination, including the whole supply chain, is required to ensure drug quality and eliminate the possibility of counterfeiting. Existing healthcare supply chain tracking and tracing systems are centralized, which raises issues in terms of data privacy and authenticity. An effective Ethereum blockchain system for monitoring medications throughout the distribution chain is suggested in this research study. This study performs an assessment and validation as well as a cost and security study to verify the system’s feasibility and increase the pharmaceutical supply chain traceability.
Medicine counterfeiting has raised significant concern in recent years. Falsified and counterfeit drug production and distribution are illegal and a public health concern. The intensity of this problem varies significantly among different countries, depending on how strongly a country’s laws and procedures are followed. Preventing counterfeit medicines has thus become a critical concern, especially in developing and underdeveloped countries. This research aims, firstly, to outline the possible factors of medicine counterfeiting; secondly, to propose a blockchain-based framework to prevent medicine counterfeiting; and thirdly, to evaluate the proposed framework. A content analysis and a semi-structured interview with the key personnel related to the medicine manufacturing and distribution system in Bangladesh were carried out to derive the current scenario of medicine counterfeit. Based on the interviews and content analysis, a set of use cases for preventing medicine counterfeiting in the context of Bangladesh was explored. The required features for developing a digital solution were extracted considering the derived use cases. A blockchain-based framework for preventing medicine counterfeit was proposed by adopting the extracted features. A prototype was developed based on the proposed framework, and an evaluation study was performed to evaluate the prototype. The evaluation study showed that the average block execution time is 201 ms, and the average block time is 482 ms. Again, the proposed framework was found secure, scalable, customer-oriented, and practical compared to other systems.
Afrooz Moatari‐Kazerouni, Dinesh R. Pai, Alejandro E. Chicas, Amin Keramati
Purpose The authors propose a blockchain platform for managing clinical trial data to enhance data validity, integrity, trust and transparency in the pharmaceutical research process. The authors also provide an extensive review of how blockchain technology supports the business processes of clinical trials. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review was conducted to identify the existing applications of blockchain in pharmaceutical process management. A conceptual design for a blockchain infrastructure to address clinical trial challenges is developed by outlining the entire clinical trial value chain and identifying the coordination and communication among its stakeholders. A stakeholder analysis is conducted to ensure that the clinical trial processes satisfy the requirements and preferences of each stakeholder. Findings The proposed blockchain platform offers a promising solution for enhancing integrity, trust and transparency in the clinical trial process. Additionally, blockchain can help streamline communication and collaboration between stakeholders by enabling multiple parties to access and share data in real time, lowering the possibility of delays or errors in data analysis and reporting. Practical implications The proposed blockchain platform can benefit patients by empowering them to have better-controlled access to their data and by allowing researchers to maintain adherence to reporting requirements. Additionally, the platform can benefit granting agencies, researchers and decision-makers by ensuring the integrity of clinical trial data and streamlining communication and collaboration between stakeholders. Originality/value This study builds on existing blockchain applications in pharmaceutical process management by developing a blockchain framework that can address clinical trial concerns from an integrated perspective.
Nov 1, 2023·2023 International Conference on Research Methodologies in Knowledge Management, Artificial Intelligence and Telecommunication Engineering (RMKMATE)
Traceability has emerged as a prime requirement. It builds an authentic relation between customers and manufacturers in terms of quality and standards of the product by tracing the origin. The traceability is the journey from the production unit to the end user. To achieve this kind of traceability and transparency for pharmaceutical products in healthcare industry implementing Block chain technology would be a good addition. It protects the information without any unauthorized changes. Blockchain ensures cryptographically each block is protected, which makes it difficult or impossible to change, hack or cheat by altering it. This paper proposes a decentralized application (Dapp) over Ethereum blockchain. The Ethereum blockchain runs the decentralized application without any third-party interference. The Dapp for a pharmaceutical industry provides a peer-to-peer relationship between the manufacture and the customer to purchase the pharmaceutical products and trace its origin and its journey to the customer which helps to avoid counterfeit products.
A promising approach to building a distributed platform for shared data that is unchangeable, trustworthy, dependable, and accessible is blockchainbased drug traceability. The Hyperledger fabric and Hyperledger Besu methodologies are used in this article to provide a complete study and summary of the present state of drug traceability distribution research on the blockchain technology in enterprise platform. The Hyperledger Fabric and Besu blockchainbased platforms satisfy critical requirements for medication traceability, including privacy, reliability, transparency, security, authorisation, authentication, and scalability. Drug supply chain transactions are carried out skill fully and securely by the Hyperledger Fabric blockchain platform among a dispersed network of stakeholders. Various pharmaceutical stakeholder groups comprise this fabricenabled private, permissioned distributed network, which supports the efficient and secure execution of medication in supply chain transactions in enterprise system. This study also explains how blockchain technology is benefiting the healthcare industry while showcasing some of its disruptive aspects that have the potential to alter current enterprise application in drug tracking procedures.
Because of the frequent occurrence of drug safety incidents in recent years, drug safety cannot be effectively guaranteed. The purpose of this study is to establish a blockchain-based drug traceability system and strengthen the construction of a drug information technology traceability system. Because the traditional drug traceability system depends on a certain center, there are many traceability participants, and the information is difficult to integrate, resulting in incomplete and unreliable traceability information. The use of blockchain technology can achieve data tamper-proof and decentralization so that each drug can be tracked through the unique identifier on the blockchain to ensure the integrity and authenticity of the data. Finally, "one thing, one code, one traceability code" will be realized, to strengthen the sharing of traceability information, realize the traceability of the whole variety and process, and improve drug safety. The drug traceability system consists of the data collection system, product traceability identification system, data statistical analysis system, and other subsystems. The platform uses distributed ledgers, blockchain, data technology, smart contracts, data mining and analysis, and other technologies to achieve multiple functional requirements such as anti-counterfeiting traceability of enterprise products, process tracking, data statistics, and so on.
In recent years, pharmaceutical drug traceability systems have been developed as critical tools for improving the digital supply chain's transparency and visibility. Blockchain-based drug traceability proposes a promising solution to create a distributed shared data platform for an irreversible, trustworthy, reliable, and transparent system. This article provides a thorough analysis and summary of the current state of drug traceability distribution research on the blockchain platform by using Hyperledger febric and Hyperledger Besu methodologies. Blockchain based platform, Hyperledger Fabric and Besu meets essential needs for drug traceability such as privacy, dependability, transparency, security, authorization, authentication, and scalability. The Hyperledger Fabric blockchain platform executes drug transactions proficiently and securely in the supply chains within a distributed network of stakeholders. This fabric-enabled private, permissioned distributed network comprising various pharmaceutical stakeholder groups aids in the efficient and secure execution of medication in supply chain transactions. This study also examines the impact of blockchain technology in the healthcare system while exhibiting how some features of this disruptive technology have the potential to transform existing cold chain and drug traceability processes. Blockchain technology embraces significant benefits in the processes of pharmaceutical drug serialization, protecting IoT devices, and ensuring temper-proof transaction sharing. Blockchain is also a potential solution to make use of IoT-enabled vehicles and warehouses for cold chain transportation by using smart sensors to capture critical temperature data. Blockchain-enabled IoT sensors in the cold chain ensure the secure transportation of drugs to pharmaceutical stakeholders in the supply chain network.
Marta Durá, Fátima Leal, Ángel Sánchez-García, Carlos Sáez · 7 authors
Abstract Purpose This paper analyses the feasibility of tracking data originality for pharmaceutical manufacturing in a tamper-proof manner using a geographically distributed system. The main research question is whether it is possible to ensure the traceability of drug manufacturing through the use of smart contracts and a private blockchain network. Methods This work employs a private Ethereum network with a proof-of-authority consensus algorithm to allow participating nodes to commit the medicament manufacturing originality as transactions in blocks. We use smart contracts to assess the “Original” principle of the ALCOA+ data integrity principles for full sensor-enabled production lines within pharmaceutical manufacturing plants. We have evaluated our data originality assessment approach employing a temporal series of 1300 reports generated based on real datasets from pharma production lines. Out of these reports, 300 reports have been randomly tampered with to make them “unoriginal” (i.e., falsified). Results Evaluation consistently shows that the proposed approach systematically detects all the manufacturing records whether original or not, together with any source of falsification. By randomly injecting four common data falsification types, their approach effectively detects tampering and ensures the authenticity of the data originality acquired by sensors within manufacturing lines. Conclusion The approach of using a private blockchain network with a proof-of-authority consensus algorithm and smart contracts is a feasible method to track data originality for pharmaceutical manufacturing in a tamper-proof manner. In addition, this approach effectively detects tampering and ensures the authenticity of the data originality acquired by sensors within manufacturing lines.
Over the last decade, pharmaceutical businesses have battled to standardize product traceability across the supply chain process, enabling counterfeiters to enter the market with counterfeit pharmaceuticals. As a result, an end-to-end product tracking system is crucial for ensuring product safety and eliminating counterfeit products across the pharmaceutical supply chain. In this paper, we introduce PharmaChain, a decentralized hyperledger fabric framework that leverages confidentiality, accountability, and interoperability. This system enables on-chain and off-chain storage for secured, rapid transactions, along with smart contracts establishing data provenance. To demonstrate security, we have provided double signing through the elliptic curve digital signature algorithm, hash data encryption, and 33% node attack. The purpose of this suggested framework is to engage particular governance disciplines to assess its effectiveness in improving drug traceability across the pharmaceutical supply chain to preserve public health by preventing counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
Open access
Blockchain Technology Applications and Security
Pharmaceutical Quality and Counterfeiting
Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation
Traceability and auditability are essential features in supply chain management and construction. However, from the customers' perspective, trust is the most critical aspect of these systems. Additionally, relying on third parties for trade in centralized systems is indispensable. Blockchain-based drug traceability provides a potential solution to create a platform for an immutable, trustworthy, accountable, and transparent system in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Furthermore, we present a model for storing pharmaceutical supply chain data using blockchain, which leverages the key advantages of blockchain and smart contracts. Our proposed solution is based on hyperledger Besu and is complete and cost-effective in terms of the privacy and confidentiality of the blockchain network. Additionally, our proposed model addresses the challenges of storing large data in the blockchain, which we intend to solve by using the IPFS storage system. In such a system, instead of storing big data, we store their abstracts in the blockchain to reduce the load pressure of the chain and realize efficient information queries.
Joe Naoum‐Sawaya, Samir Elhedhli, Paulo R. V. de Carvalho
Counterfeiting is an ever growing problem worldwide which is exacerbated by the ease of access through e-commerce and online shopping. This calls for innovative technologies, such as blockchain, to identify, track, and prevent fake products from reaching consumers, especially for vital sectors such as the drug industry, which is the main motivation for this work. We investigate the strategic implications of using blockchain technology to deter counterfeiters. We particularly focus on the case of deceptive counterfeits that infiltrate legitimate distribution channels. Deceptive counterfeits lack the quality of genuine products and may pose immense health and safety risks to consumers who are unable to distinguish them from genuine products at the time of purchase. In contrast to prior literature that assumes that blockchain eliminates deceptive counterfeiting, we present a model that realistically considers blockchain as a technology that increases the capability of detecting counterfeits. This capability nonetheless comes at an increasing cost that may financially discourage genuine manufacturers from adopting the technology. The presented model shows that blockchain is not always financially beneficial and demonstrates that manufacturers can strategically balance between product quality and investment in blockchain to combat counterfeiting. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that, with the availability of blockchain, genuine manufacturers may be less interested to differentiate products based on quality, but rather rely on blockchain to block counterfeits.
The pharmaceutical company is key to having a strong healthcare system, and excellent healthcare is essential for every society and economy. However, there are significant concerns with medication safety and security as a result of fake and inferior medical items, which constitute a significant hazard and harm to consumers’ health. Globally, drug counterfeiting is a severe problem that endangers the public’s health as well as the health of consumers. The global business of manufacturing fake medications generates enormous annual revenue. To have a quality healthcare system, the pharmaceutical industry is of great importance and plays a vital role in medicine and pharmaceutical supplies. With emerging computer technologies like blockchain and IoT cutting across several industries and sectors and revolutionizing the world, a systematic literature review of various articles chosen from different databases was carried out in this study to analyze and evaluate application areas of this technology in the pharmaceutical industry and existing frameworks that have been proposed to solve problems faced in the pharmaceutical industry. The outcome of this review showed that the application of the blockchain and IoT hybrid framework can assist in reducing the drug counterfeit problem and provide solutions to most of the problems faced in the pharmaceutical industry. This study also proposed a framework that addressed the drawbacks of existing frameworks in the pharmaceutical industry.
Purpose Adopting new technologies to improve supply chain activities and processes is essential due to increasingly complex and dynamic business environments. Particularly in the pharmaceutical industry, high-quality standards must be met, requiring transparency and visibility in the supply chain. This research aims at investigating the implementation of blockchain technology in the supply chain of an Egyptian pharmaceutical company. Design/methodology/approach The research applies a single case-study approach building on the theoretical underpinnings of transaction cost economics. Twenty-five semistructured interviews were conducted with pharmacies and employees of the case company to identify the blockchain technologies' potential for pharmaceutical supply in Egypt. Further analyzing the frequencies of the codes, the authors elaborate on specific relationships between the observed practices. Findings The research revealed the potential benefits of adopting blockchain technology. Transaction costs are indeed positively impacted by reduced contracting costs, processing costs and lead times, also ensuring the safe delivery of medications. However, the findings also highlight obstacles related to running costs, awareness and company culture. Regarding supply chain governance, blockchain technology can enhance collaboration within the supply chain as well as with important stakeholders. Practical implications Insufficient management of pharmaceutical supply chains (PSC) may affect a company's reputation but also disrupt the patient's healing process due to temperature damage and counterfeit medicines. Blockchain governance, in this vein, can ensure a safer and more reliable supply of pharmaceutical products. For intraorganizational purposes, however, cloud solutions, barcoding and generally digital platforms are rated more frequently than blockchain solutions. Originality/value The present study contributes to an advanced understanding how blockchain technology supports PSC, particularly in an emerging country context like Egypt. It thereby confirms and extends previous research as well as adds to the theoretical underpinnings of digitalized supply chains.
Consumer knowledge of the goods produced or processed by the numerous suppliers and processors is still relatively low due to the growing complexity of the structure of pharmaceutical supply chains. Information asymmetry in the pharmaceutical sector has an effect on welfare, sustainability, and health. (1) Background: In this respect, we wanted to develop a productive structure for a pharmaceutical supply chain that satisfies the consumer information needs and fosters consumer confidence in the pharmacy goods they buy. By using blockchain technology, the main goals were to develop and implement a pharmaceutical supply chain. (2) Objectives: The main objectives of this work were to leverage an Ethereum platform for the development of a tractability system in a pharmaceutical supply chain environment and to analyze the efficiency of MSMAChain with respect to the cost and execution of transactions based on our designed smart contracts. (3) Results: This research looked into a variety of issues related to the value, viability, and effects of blockchain technology for use in supply chain applications. The methods and creations in this environment were monitored and researched. It is vital to identify a number of crucial subjects including future research areas, in order to achieve the widespread acceptance of the supply chain traceability provided by blockchain technology. (4) Conclusions: MSMAChain, an Ethereum blockchain-based approach, leverages smart contracts and decentralized off-chain storage for efficient product traceability in terms of the cost and execution of transaction for a health care supply chain.
Xu Xiang, Ning Tian, Haoyu Gao, Hong Lei · 6 authors
Drug counterfeiting and trafficking are common all over the world. The main reason for this is that the traditional drug supply chain model is opaque, and the database is controlled by the direct interest person, so there is a chance that the actual controller tampers with or falsifies the data for personal gain. The blockchain, as a distributed ledger, can achieve process transparency, data sharing, and autonomous management in the pharmaceutical supply chain through its unique cryptographic algorithms, smart contracts, and consensus mechanisms. However, it introduces a number of new issues, such as scalability, system interoperability, and regulatory policies. This paper discusses the benefits of blockchain technology in enabling the drug supply chain, as well as some academic research and mature industry solutions in this area. We also go over some of the issues that need to be addressed and potential response strategies for using blockchain technology in pharmaceutical supply chain scenarios. Finally, in order to address issues with current drug supply chain regulation, we propose a new model that incorporates the ‘‘governing blockchain by blockchain’’ architecture in order to achieve safe and efficient automated supply chain management.