Healthcare Supply Chain Management: Transformation Strategies and Innovative Solutions

Abstract

This research underscores the importance of a balanced approach addressing technological and human dimensions in fostering resilience in healthcare supply chains. The study examines technological solutions for enhancing healthcare supply chain resilience in response to unprecedented disruptions from natural and artificial disasters. Healthcare supply chains face persistent inefficiencies, including stakeholder misalignment, centralization deficiencies, inventory management challenges, security vulnerabilities, and transparency issues that compromise emergency response capabilities. Through a systematic literature review, the study evaluates the integration of blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as transformative approaches to healthcare supply chain optimization. The analysis reveals significant implementation barriers, including technical complexity, regulatory uncertainty, financial constraints, workforce adaptation challenges, and ethical considerations. The research proposes a comprehensive transformation strategy incorporating technological integration with organizational change management frameworks. The findings demonstrate that building resilient healthcare supply chains requires a balanced approach that combines emerging technologies with strategic workforce development, change management processes, ethical considerations, and targeted risk mitigation strategies. Healthcare organizations can enhance resilience in an increasingly complex and disruption-prone global landscape by addressing both technological and human dimensions of supply chain transformation.