Blockchain Technology for Product Traceability: Application to Pharmaceutical Products.

Abstract

This thesis discusses the design and implementation of a blockchain-based system for pharmaceutical product tracking and tracing. The objective here is to give transparency, integrity, and security in tracking the product across the supply chain. Current systems are centralized and hence prone to tampering and inefficiency. To address these issues, we recommend the implementation of a decentralized application using modern web technologies like React for frontend development, Express.js for the backend, PostgreSQL for database, and a blockchain network was implemented using special web libraries to enable peer-to-peer communication and consensus without the need for a central authority. The process allows users to create, authenticate, and transfer product records on a shared ledger such that each stage of the life cycle of a product is recorded irretrievably. Peers authenticate transactions and mine blocks published on the network collectively. The process enhances the integrity of pharma supply chains by eliminating counterfeiting, fraud, and unauthorized product tampering. The prototype created herein demonstrates the effectiveness of the combination of blockchain and web technologies towards secure and scalable traceability. This work contributes to the advancement of decentralized supply chain management solutions, most importantly in industries where trust and traceability are a necessity.