DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN PHARMACEUTICAL SUPPLY CHAINS: BLOCKCHAIN, AI, ENGINEERING, AND LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS

The study discusses the digital revolution of pharmaceutical supply chains in the form of Blockchain technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Engineering advances and legal regulations. The study employed both mixed methodology which entailed secondary data, case studies and reviews of regulatory documents in assessing the operational, and technological impacts.The findings indicate that blockchain implementation has reduced the prevalence of counterfeit medications from 10–12% to 3–4%, while traceability has improved from under 40% to over 85%. Additionally, the preparedness for adhering to the regulatory frameworks has risen by 45%. Similarly, AI-driven forecasting has enhanced demand precision from 70–75% to 85–90%, minimized supply shortages by 60%, and shortened logistics lead times by 28%. The engineering factors of the project revealed that integrating blockchain with cloud migration enhanced system scalability by 40% and reduced downtime by 50%. In addition, the interoperability has been significantly improved (up to 70%) by means of the GS1 and RFID standards. The legal aspect revealed that blockchain and AI facilitate DSCSA and FMD compliance; however, challenges remain in completely fulfilling GDPR and HIPAA obligations. In conclusion, the research clearly illustrates the potential that blending blockchain, AI, engineering creativity, and regulatory oversight has in creating secure, transparent, and efficient pharmaceutical supply chains that guarantee patient safety and also aid in the sustainability of global healthcare.