Drug counterfeiting and decentralized whistleblowers

To tackle the devastating issue of drug counterfeiting, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has initiated a pilot project in which 24 companies in the pharmaceutical supply chain use blockchain technology to track and trace drug deliveries among manufacturers, distributors, hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. Although embracing new and powerful technologies is a meaningful step toward eliminating the shadow of deadly drug counterfeiting, powerful governments, and pharmaceutical giants can also take other steps to fight against drug counterfeiting. These may include helping to establish the blockchain infrastructure in low-income and underdeveloped countries, providing free or affordable original drug products to low-income countries, and allowing local drug manufacturers across the globe to manufacture affordable comparable products.