The role of metaverse technology in the healthcare supply chain: Identifying clustering patterns, application areas, and future directions

In an era of rapid digital transformation, the Metaverse emerges as a groundbreaking convergence of artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), robotics, and quantum computing, poised to redefine healthcare supply chains. This study harnesses patent analysis, technology lifecycle theory, and k-means clustering to unravel clustering patterns, pinpoint high-impact application areas, and chart a strategic roadmap for Metaverse integration in healthcare. By dissecting 1672 patents from the World Intellectual Property Organization database, we categorize innovations into lifecycle stages—introduction (2013–2017), slow growth (2018–2020), and rapid growth (2021–2023)—revealing evolutionary trajectories from foundational infrastructure to advanced applications. Key clusters identified include Metaverse infrastructure and platform development, healthcare supply chain and wellness integration, preventive health monitoring, medical training and education simulations, fitness and rehabilitation platforms, patient management and remote care systems, remote surgery and procedural training, pharmaceutical supply chain optimization, Metaverse tool and platform evolution, and AI-powered personalized health risk control. These clusters underscore transformative potentials in remote surgery, personalized health monitoring, medical training, pharmaceutical traceability, and fitness rehabilitation, fostering resilient, personalized, and efficient supply chains. Despite high initial infrastructure costs, our data-driven insights equip policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders with actionable strategies to accelerate adoption, bridge implementation gaps, and drive sustainable competitiveness in global healthcare ecosystems.