Definition ∞ Drug traceability refers to the ability to track and verify the complete journey of pharmaceutical products from manufacturing to patient delivery. This process involves recording detailed information at each stage of the supply chain, including origin, batch numbers, expiration dates, handling conditions, and distribution points. Blockchain technology is increasingly employed to create immutable and transparent records of these movements, enhancing data security and auditability. Effective drug traceability helps combat counterfeiting, ensures product authenticity, and improves recall efficiency, thereby safeguarding public health. It provides a reliable audit trail for every pharmaceutical item.
Context ∞ News regarding drug traceability often highlights efforts by regulatory bodies and pharmaceutical companies to implement more secure and transparent supply chain solutions. The current discussion involves the adoption of interoperable blockchain platforms that can accommodate diverse stakeholders across global supply networks. A critical future development will be the mandatory integration of advanced traceability systems, potentially leveraging unique digital identifiers for each product, to achieve end-to-end visibility and bolster consumer confidence in pharmaceutical integrity.