Leveraging Hashgraph Technology in Pharmaceutical Supply Chains: A Case Study

Counterfeit medicines, expired drugs, and the security of the pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC) are pressing issues in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, with serious implications for public health and the pharmaceutical industry. Despite the critical need for secure and effective PSC management, many organizations in the region rely on basic IT systems, limiting their ability to address these challenges. This study investigates the current state of the pharmaceutical sector, focusing on the extent of IT adoption and its role in enhancing supply chain security and combating counterfeit drugs through the integration of hashgraph technology. A comprehensive literature review highlighted significant gaps in research on PSC in Kurdistan and a limited knowledge of hashgraph utilization in managing and securing PSC’s operations. To address these gaps, this study employs a case study methodology through a triangulation of multiple resources to explore the adoption of hashgraph technologies to ensure security and integrity in PSCs. The findings reveal significant shortcomings in IT infrastructure, barriers to technology adoption, and challenges specific to implementing advanced solutions.