Modern slavery remediation in healthcare supply chains through blockchain implementation: a socio-technical systems perspective

Purpose Modern slavery remediation remains a supply chain concern for Australian healthcare organisations, which rely heavily on imported goods with limited upstream visibility. Although blockchain is recognised as a means of enhancing supply chain transparency, little is known about how it can be effectively implemented across organisational boundaries. Taking a socio-technical systems approach, this study investigates how blockchain can support the remediation of modern slavery in healthcare supply chains. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts an abductive approach based on semi-structured interviews with healthcare procurement managers and blockchain experts. The abductive approach enables iterative engagement between theoretical insights and empirical evidence to develop a context-sensitive understanding of blockchain implementation in healthcare supply chains. Findings Blockchain implementation for modern slavery remediation is shaped by the interaction between the social and technical subsystems within a broader macro-environmental context. Healthcare organisations are motivated to implement blockchain by external accountability pressures, modern slavery data governance needs, socially sustainable procurement objectives and proactive risk management. However, implementation is constrained by socio-technical misalignments, including uneven organisational readiness, supplier integration barriers and technology-related challenges. To address these misalignments, the study identifies key enabling mechanisms, including supplier support and capability development, strategic stakeholder collaboration and organisational learning. Originality/value This study provides an early empirical investigation of buyer-initiated blockchain implementation for modern slavery remediation in Australian healthcare supply chains. Moving beyond techno-optimistic and techno-pessimistic perspectives, it demonstrates that blockchain effectiveness is neither guaranteed by technical capabilities nor constrained solely by technological limitations but depends on achieving socio-technical alignment across supply chains.