Pharmaceutical supply chain blockchain adoption barriers and drivers in developing countries: a DEMATEL approach

Purpose Although blockchain technology (BT) has gained prominence in the Industry 4.0 era, research on its potential in pharmaceutical supply chains (PSCs) remains underexplored. There is a dearth of empirical studies that capture the pertinent drivers and barriers to support effective adoption decisions and tackle counterfeit drugs, particularly in developing African nations, where the technology is still in its infancy and fake drugs are more prevalent. This study integrates the human-organisation-technology (HOT) fit model and the technology-organisation-environment (TOE) to develop a hierarchical decision-support framework for BT adoption within the PSC in these contexts. Design/methodology/approach The Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method was used to assess and prioritise the drivers and inhibitors and establish their interrelationships. Findings The results establish a framework that emphasises the relative importance and net effects of various drivers and barriers to implementing BT in the PSC. Overall, human-related factors demonstrated a stronger impact than technological, environmental and organisational drivers concerning BT adoption. Conversely, technological factors appeared as the main obstacles. Moreover, both graphical and numerical representations of the interactions are illustrated, offering insights into the drivers and barriers that PSCs must urgently concentrate on to curb counterfeit drugs with blockchain adoption. Originality/value The theoretical contribution lies in integrating previously separate theoretical strands to create a comprehensive framework to support BT adoption decisions for mitigating drug counterfeiting in the PSC, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, while exploring their interrelationships. Practically, the research outcomes establish a strategic pathway for stakeholders to foster widespread BT adoption for optimising PSCs, increasing transparency and preventing the production, sale and distribution of counterfeit medicines.