Actual Blockchain Use Cases

The world of blockchain seems to be growing at an exponential rate. Every day seems to bring a different story about a new industry looking to use blockchain to its benefit, ranging from the heights of world governments to the entertainment industry. Blockchain is the word on the lips of businesses across the world. But while blockchain can improve processes in companies the world over, can it also be used to help make the world a better place?

This video from IBM Research lays out how the blockchain is used in preventing counterfeit drugs in Kenya. The route from drug manufacturers to doctors and patients is a troublesome one, and far too many lives are lost as African men, women and children are given counterfeit drugs rather than the authentic articles, to say nothing of the other costs to the African healthcare system. But with the introduction of a new blockchain system, doctors can be sure that they drugs they’re receiving and providing to patients are genuine and haven’t been tampered or damaged in any way throughout the process.

Any doctor looking to order drugs from a pharmaceutical provider places their order through the trusted distributed network of the particular blockchain. That order is received by the provider, who registers the information and QR codes for those drugs on the blockchain and selects an available delivery person to transport the drugs. The delivery drivers are rated based upon performance and receive work based upon their rating, so they are incentivized to deliver the material efficiently and in good condition. Once the delivery person arrives, both provider and driver authenticate the transfer of the drugs and place them in a sealed container that uses sensors to send measurements to the blockchain every 60 seconds, along with any alarms that may arise if the container is tampered with or otherwise damaged. Once the driver reaches the doctor, both driver and doctor again verify the transfer of material on the blockchain and the doctor accepts delivery.

Adding the blockchain to the delivery process adds assurances for all parties that protect against the introduction or substitution of counterfeit drugs. All information is entered and stored in the blockchain and can’t be altered after the fact. The transparency of the process enables doctors to trust that the drugs they’re getting are genuine, and pharma providers know that what they sent out is reaching the doctors and patients that need them. Fewer drugs are lost and the lead time needed to get them from provider to doctor is reduced. And with any luck, one fewer person will die from preventable illness, thanks to the blockchain.