Innovative digital technologies in pharmaceutical supply chains: a scoping and bibliometric analysis (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The growing shortage of drugs, an increase in the number of logistical failures and counterfeit products, as well as stricter requirements for the traceability and quality of medicines reinforce the need to transform pharmaceutical supply chains. Digital technologies are playing an increasingly important role in increasing the transparency, security, and efficiency of pharmaceutical supply chains. In recent years, there has been an increase in scientific research on the use of technologies such as blockchain, the Internet of Things, and data analysis methods in pharmaceutical logistics management. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to analyze scientific publications on digital innovations in pharmaceutical supply chains, as well as to identify the main directions and trends in the development of this field. METHODS This study employed a combined scoping review and bibliometric analysis to examine the development of digital technologies in pharmaceutical supply chains. The methodology was guided by the PRISMA 2020 framework for systematic reporting. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in international databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed. Relevant publications were identified using predefined search terms related to pharmaceutical supply chains, digital technologies, blockchain, and artificial intelligence. Studies not related to supply chains, lacking a digital component, or not meeting quality criteria were excluded. Bibliometric analysis was performed to identify key research trends, publication dynamics, and thematic clusters. Keyword co-occurrence analysis and visualization were conducted using VOSviewer software to map the intellectual structure of the field. The results were analyzed descriptively and interpreted to identify major research directions and gaps in the literature. RESULTS The results of the study showed that the key areas of research are the use of blockchain technologies, the Internet of Things and smart contracts to ensure the traceability of drugs and increase the sustainability of pharmaceutical supply chains. The analysis of keywords revealed several thematic clusters reflecting the main directions of scientific research. The results obtained allow for a better understanding of the structure and development trends of scientific research in the field of digitalization of pharmaceutical logistics and can serve as a basis for further research and development of strategies for the digital transformation of pharmaceutical supply chains. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study demonstrate the growing importance of digital technologies in transforming pharmaceutical supply chains, particularly in enhancing transparency, traceability, and operational efficiency. Bibliometric analysis revealed that blockchain, artificial intelligence, and IoT are the most prominent research directions in this field. Despite the increasing number of studies, gaps remain in the integration of these technologies into real-world pharmaceutical systems. Future research should focus on practical implementation strategies, regulatory alignment, and the evaluation of long-term impacts on healthcare outcomes.