# Blockchain-based Prescription Drug Supply Chain Tracking

> Walmart participates in an FDA pilot project for blockchain-based tracking of prescription drugs and vaccines, based on the Drug Supply Chain Security Act of 2013. The project aims to identify and remove counterfeit, stolen or contaminated medications from the supply chain. The electronic, interoperable track-and-trace system enables real-time monitoring of medications and accelerates the tracking and tracing of inventory.

**Sector:** Tertiary sector · **Industry:** Pharmaceutical sales and services · **Organisation:** Walmart · **Maturity level:** Pilot

Canonical URL: https://www.sapientblock.com/en/use-cases/walmart-rezeptpflichtige-mittel-lueckenlos-ueberwachen

## Documentation status

- **Project status:** Pilot
- **Evidence:** Evidence high
- **Editorial review:** Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026

## Description

Monitoring prescription medicines through blockchain closes a critical safety gap: counterfeit opioid tablets from unknown sources have claimed tens of thousands of lives in the US opioid crisis; contaminated medicines have led to mass recalls.

DSCSA implementation: pharmaceutical manufacturers must label every single pack with a GS1 serial number; wholesalers and pharmacies must scan and document this at every change of ownership. The blockchain model: instead of a central database (single point of failure and attack), MediLedger and similar systems use Hyperledger Fabric as a permissioned blockchain — only authorised actors can write, everyone can perform compliance checks. Walmart Pharma Tracking Initiative: Walmart used the experience from IBM Food Trust (mango traceability reduced from 6 days to 2.2 seconds) as a blueprint for pharmaceutical tracking in its 5,000+ pharmacies. Special challenge of the opioid crisis: stolen or diverted prescription medicines not documented in DSCSA-compliant fashion could be immediately identified as counterfeits or illegal diversions.

## Benefits

- Reduced liability risks and improved compliance efficiency for pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies.
- Increased safety and trust in the authenticity and quality of received medicines.
- Enhanced medicine safety through seamless tracking from production to the end consumer.
- Faster identification and removal of counterfeit or contaminated medicines from the supply chain.
- Improved compliance with regulatory requirements such as the FDA Drug Supply Chain Security Act.
- Automated verification processes reduce manual effort and increase work efficiency in pharmacies.

## Challenges

- High implementation costs and technical complexity when integrating into existing business processes.
- Integration with various existing systems in the pharmaceutical supply chain requires complex technical solutions.
- Coordination between different stakeholders such as manufacturers, wholesalers, pharmacies and regulatory authorities is demanding.
- Training needs for new technologies and changed workflows in pharmacies and healthcare facilities.

## Technology foundation

The project uses a shared, permissioned blockchain network based on proven blockchain technologies such as Hyperledger Fabric. This technology is particularly suitable for the pharmaceutical supply chain as it enables secure, immutable records of all transactions while meeting privacy and regulatory requirements.

## Sources

- [FDA: DSCSA Blockchain Interoperability Pilot Project Report (IBM, KPMG, Merck, Walmart), Februar 2020](https://www.fda.gov/media/169883/download)
- [Merck: IBM, KPMG, Merck and Walmart collaborate as part of FDAs blockchain program](https://www.merck.com/news/ibm-kpmg-merck-and-walmart-to-collaborate-as-part-of-fdas-program-to-evaluate-the-use-of-blockchain-to-protect-pharmaceutical-product-integrity/)
- [Ledger Insights: Walgreens, Walmart join MediLedger FDA blockchain pharma pilot](https://www.ledgerinsights.com/walgreens-walmart-mediledger-blockchain-pharmaceuticals-dscsa/)