Intelligent Healthcare Supply Chain

Abstract

The healthcare sector remains actively focused on innovative medicines and treatments to improve the quality and longevity of human lives. Merely, the development of such innovations is not enough but making them available to the end consumer is imperative and that's where the HSC comes into the picture. As per the report, global medicine consumption crossed 4.5 trillion doses a year, with over 50% of people take more than at least one daily dose of medicines, HSC management is vital for human lives. The Healthcare Supply Chain (HSC) is the most critical operation as it demands integrity, agility, resilience and cost-effectiveness. The legacy supply chain is not capable to handle the challenges of counterfeiting, geopolitical issues, disruptions due to pandemics and scarcity of skilled manpower to deliver products and services to the end consumers. Worldwide Covid-19 pandemic disruption has further strengthened the quest to revamp the HSC by making it more resilient and intelligent. Technologies like deep learning (DL) human-machine interface (HMI), machine learning (ML), blockchain, robotics, cloud computing, AI, big data analytics (BDA), Digital Twins, Industry 4.0, IoT and control towers aid for developing end-to-end intelligent, integrated and data-driven supply chain.