Research & Reviews: A Journal of Drug Formulation, Development and Production Original Research
Blockchain Technology for Strengthening the Indian Generic Medicine Supply Chain and Combating Counterfeit Drugs
Abstract
India is one of the leading distributors of generic medicines globally, but its supply chain faces numerous challenges including substandard medicines, counterfeiting, and inefficient logistics. Blockchain technology offers a promising solution by providing a secure, decentralized, and transparent platform to track and verify the entire drug supply chain from production to delivery. This paper investigates the potential of blockchain to mitigate counterfeit drug circulation, improve trust in Indian generic medicines, and enhance the efficiency of supply chain management. It explores real-world applications, such as NITI Aayog’s collaboration with Oracle and other blockchain initiatives globally. The paper concludes that blockchain can restore stakeholder confidence, address counterfeiting challenges, and position India as a leader in global pharmaceutical supply chains while improving public health outcomes through better product traceability. By embracing blockchain, the Indian pharmaceutical industry can revolutionize drug distribution and contribute to a safer global medicine supply chain.
Keywords
References (16)
- Gambia child deaths: WHO stands by “dangerous” India cough syrup claim. BBC News [Internet]. 2022 Dec 16 [Accessed on March 2023]. Available from: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-63996180.
- World Health Organization. Substandard and falsified medical products [Internet]. [Accessed on March 2023]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/substandard-and-falsified-medical-products.
- Khan A, Khar R. Current scenario of spurious and substandard medicines in india: A systematic review. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2015;77(1):2. doi:10.4103/0250-474x.151550
- Guidelines for Spurious Drugs [Internet]. [Accessed on March 2023]. Available from: https://cdsco.gov.in/opencms/opencms/en/consumer/Guidelines-for-Spurious-Drugs/.
- DGFT Drug Track N Trace Implementation Manual [Internet]. [Accessed on March 2023]. Available from: http://dava.gov.in/davahq/files/DGFT_Drug_Track_N_Trace_Implementation_Manual.pdf
- Sainathan P. Tackling counterfeit medicines—barcodes vs. RFID vs. blockchain [Internet]. [Accessed on March 2023]. Available from: https://blog.roambee.com/supply-chain-technology/tackling-counterfeit-medicines-barcodes-vs-rfid-vs-blockchain.
- Ghosh J. The Blockchain: Opportunities for Research in Information Systems and Information Technology. Journal of Global Information Technology Management. 2019;22(4):235-242. doi:10.1080/1097198x.2019.1679954
- Nakamoto S. Bitcoin: a peer-to-peer electronic cash system [Internet]. [Accessed on March 2023]. Available from: https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf.
- Sheikh H, Azmathullah RM, Rizwan F. Proof-of-work vs proof-of-stake: A comparative analysis and an approach to blockchain consensus mechanism. Int J Res Appl Sci Eng Technol. 2018;6(12):786–791.
- Khan SN, Loukil F, Ghedira-Guegan C, Benkhelifa E, Bani-Hani A. Blockchain smart contracts: Applications, challenges, and future trends. Peer-to-Peer Networking and Applications. 2021;14(5):2901-2925. doi:10.1007/s12083-021-01127-0
- Zakari N, Al-Razgan M, Alsaadi A, Alshareef H, Al saigh H, Alashaikh L, et al. Blockchain technology in the pharmaceutical industry: A systematic review. PeerJ Comput Sci. 2022;8:e840. doi: 7717/peerj-cs.840.
- 5 transformative merits of blockchain in pharma [Internet]. BioSpectrum Asia. [Accessed on March 2023]. Available from: https://www.biospectrumasia.com/analysis/25/20238/5-transformative-merits-of-blockchain-in-pharma-.html.
- NITI Aayog, Oracle, Apollo Hospitals and Strides Pharma Sciences come together to end India’s growing battle against fake drug distribution [Internet]. Oracle. [Accessed on March 2023]. Available from: https://www.oracle.com/in/corporate/pressrelease/niti-aayog-oracle-pilot-real-drug-supply-chain-with-blockchain-iot-2018-09-28.html.
- Xu J, Guo S, Xie D, Yan Y. Blockchain: A new safeguard for agri-foods. Artif Intell Agric. 2020;4:153–161. doi: 1016/j.aiia.2020.08.002.
- Carrefour goes the blockchain way [Internet]. WhatNext Global. 2022 [Accessed on March 2023]. Available from: https://whatnextglobal.com/carrefour-goes-the-blockchain-way/.
- Ahmed WAH, MacCarthy BL. Blockchain-enabled supply chain traceability–how wide? how deep? Int J Prod Econ. 2023;263:108963.