Published Paper Details:

The pharmaceutical supply chain is a critical network ensuring the delivery of safe medications, involving manufacturers, distributors, and consumers. Its complexity is compounded by vulnerabilities like counterfeit drugs and delayed payments. This research addresses persistent challenges, including a 10% counterfeit drug prevalence, opaque tracking, and centralized systems prone to tampering, which contribute to inefficiencies and risks. A novel blockchain-based framework is proposed, utilizing Ethereum smart contracts and the Inter Planetary File System (IPFS) to enhance transparency and security. The methodology integrates decentralized storage for tamper-proof certifications, automated Ethereum Request for Comment 20 (ERC-20) token payments, and role-based access control, implemented via a React.js frontend and Node.js backend. Testing reveals a 30% reduction in administrative delays and near-elimination of counterfeit drugs through cryptographic validation, with stablecoin payments mitigating currency risks. The framework ensures compliance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards and achieves scalability through Polygon's Layer-2 solutions. In conclusion, this system significantly improves supply chain integrity and efficiency, offering a robust alternative to traditional models. Future work will explore Internet of Things (IoT) integration for real-time condition monitoring and global regulatory standardization to facilitate broader adoption, positioning blockchain as a transformative solution for pharmaceutical supply chains.