Please describe your proposed solution

Context

Counterfeit medications are a healthcare issue in many countries due to the lack of efficient methods to validate the origin and authenticity of a drug. This not only represents significant losses for the pharmaceutical industry but also poses a great risk to individuals, especially when it involves medications for rare and/or lethal diseases.

Currently, there are efforts to combat this problem; however, they are weak mechanisms and isolated from the entire supply chain, and worse yet, they are susceptible to alteration. This is why traceability is a fundamental requirement to ensure supply chain visibility, which, in turn, is essential for providing security and trust. In the pharmaceutical context, traceability involves the ability to track and verify each step in the life cycle of a medication, from its manufacturing to its delivery to the final patient. This includes access to detailed information on the composition and/or active compound, production processes, distribution, and storage, ensuring that medications reach consumers safely and without alterations.

Proposed solution

We propose to incorporate Cardano Blockchain technology into the production and distribution chain of medications to ensure their traceability and guarantee their authenticity. The proposed solution includes:

- Production process

The first step in traceability is registering the production details on the blockchain. This includes batch identification, medication composition, manufacturer details, and quality certifications. Each production batch will be recorded on a block of the chain, so any changes in the formula or errors during manufacturing are easily detectable and immutable. Being on the blockchain, any audit can verify this information transparently.

- Distribution chain

The solution will track the medication from the production plant to its delivery to distributors and retailers. Every movement of the batch will be recorded on the blockchain: each transport, storage, or transfer to a new node of the chain will be registered as an immutable transaction. This ensures that the medication has passed through approved channels and has not been tampered with at any stage of distribution. The use of smart contracts on the Cardano network can automate this tracking, triggering alerts if any step is not followed as planned.

- Final sale/delivery

When the medication reaches the point of sale or final delivery to the patient/consumer, the information recorded during the entire production and distribution process will be available. Each product can have a QR code or a unique identifier that allows the consumer to scan it and verify its authenticity on the blockchain, from manufacturing to final delivery. This will provide patients and medical professionals with an additional layer of security and confidence regarding the legitimacy of the product they are receiving.

Certification of authenticity

Each batch of medications will have a digital certificate of authenticity registered on the blockchain. This certificate will ensure that the batch is original and has passed the relevant quality control processes, being immutably recorded on the blockchain. Health authorities or buyers will be able to verify its authenticity simply by accessing the blockchain, without the need for intermediaries..

Identity of producer, transporter, seller

To ensure security and accountability throughout the entire supply chain, each actor involved (manufacturer, transporter, distributor, and seller) will have a verified digital identity on the blockchain. These identities will be linked to the traceability records, so it will always be possible to identify which entity was responsible at each step of the process. This guarantees transparent accountability and facilitates incident management or investigations if a problem arises.

Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

Attraction of collaborations and strategic partnerships:

The use of blockchain for medication traceability can capture the attention of government agencies, health regulators, pharmaceutical organizations, and other entities interested in improving transparency and security in the distribution of medical products. This will open opportunities for collaborations and strategic partnerships with governmental entities and relevant organizations, further strengthening Cardano's position as a trusted platform for critical applications in key sectors.

Number of potential beneficiaries:

The potential beneficiaries include millions of people who rely on safe and authentic medications, from patients to medical professionals and health organizations. The solution will also benefit the pharmaceutical industry by helping reduce losses from counterfeiting. This large-scale impact demonstrates the scalability of the proposed solution and its ability to significantly improve the lives of many people in different countries, which will strengthen the adoption and growth of the Cardano ecosystem.

How will you measure this impact:

Adoption by health authorities and the pharmaceutical industry: We will measure the impact by the number of health authorities, pharmaceutical companies, and distributors who express interest in implementing our Cardano blockchain-based traceability system. This will provide insight into the level of acceptance and trust in our solution within the pharmaceutical industry and health regulators.

User feedback: We will gather qualitative feedback from users, including healthcare professionals, pharmacists, and patients, to assess their satisfaction with the system. Their opinions and experiences will provide valuable insights into the usability and effectiveness of the solution and how it has improved the safety and confidence in the medications they receive.

How will you share the outputs and opportunities that result from your project:

Documentation and reports: We will prepare detailed documentation and reports describing the development process, the implementation methodology, and key findings of the project. This information will be shared with both the Cardano community and the stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry, ensuring broad dissemination of the knowledge generated.

What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Our ability to deliver this project with high levels of confidence and responsibility is based on solid educational and technical experience:

Technical Experience: I am a developer with over 10 years of software development experience and solid technical expertise in blockchain, which allows me to understand and apply the necessary technologies for creating a gamified educational platform. Additionally, I have led the development of projects involving the integration of smart contracts and dApps on the blockchain.

Team Experience: We have an experienced and competent team that possesses in-depth knowledge of blockchain technology, health system, and computer security. In addition, we have the endorsement of some Atala Pioneer members, which adds additional value to our experience and knowledge.

Funded Catalyst Projects: I currently have two proposals funded by Project Catalyst that are in progress, demonstrating my ability to manage complex projects, meet established deadlines, and deliver high-quality results.

Blockchain Education Experience: We have organized over 20 educational events in Ecuador and Paraguay, where I have taught fundamental blockchain concepts and the specific features of Cardano, including Project Catalyst. These events have had a significant reach, involving students and professionals from various sectors, and have facilitated the early adoption of blockchain in these regions.

High-Quality Documentation and Products: All materials and products generated in these projects have detailed and high-quality documentation, ensuring that the community can fully benefit from the resources and continue contributing to the ecosystem's development and growth.

Establishment of Accountability Mechanisms: We will implement clear accountability mechanisms at all stages of the project; both the source code and the documentation will be 100% available to the community.

Validation of Approach Feasibility: To validate that our approach is feasible, we will implement the following strategies:

Rapid Iteration and Feedback: During the development of the educational game, we will apply an iterative development cycle, releasing beta versions of the product to select groups of users to gather early feedback and adjust our approach based on user needs.

Collaboration with the Cardano Community: We will ensure that our content aligns with the latest advancements of Cardano through ongoing collaboration with the community and key developers. This will also allow us to validate that we are creating a valuable and relevant resource for community members.

Technical Testing and Usability Evaluations: We will validate the technical capabilities of the platform through rigorous testing that will assess both user experience and technical performance, ensuring the final product is robust, scalable, and accessible.

What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: Planning and Preliminary Design (3 Month)

Deliverables:

• Detailed Project Plan: Development of a plan that includes objectives, scope, resources, schedule, and identified risks.
• Identification of the phases of traceability and their actors: Identification of actors and responsibilities.
• Needs Definition: Establish the functionalities/requirements to be included in the project.

Expected Goals:

• Establish a solid foundation for the project through careful planning.
• Identify the phases, actors, and their needs.

Progress Indicators:

• Number of meetings held with key stakeholders.
• Number of required documents (gathered requirements).

Milestone 2: Proof of Concept (part 1 )(3 Month)

Deliverables:

• User Interface Design: Design the screens for each role involved in the process.
• Platform Architecture: Define the technological structure required to implement and operate the solution.
• Functional System: Development and implementation of the platform that will enable traceability.

Expected Goals:

• Deliver a functional and secure platform for medication traceability.
• Establish solid integration with Atala PRISM.
• Establish solid integration with Midnight.

Progress Indicators:

• Number of lines of code published in the GIT repository.
• Successful operational tests of the medication traceability system.
• Successful interoperability with Midnight and Atala PRISM.

Milestone 3: Proof of Concept (part 2 )(3 Month)

Deliverables:

• POC (Proof of Concept) for the System: Development of the proof of concept for the platform.
• Integration with Atala PRISM: Successful integration of Atala PRISM into the platform to ensure security for the actors in the traceability process.
• Comprehensive Testing: Conduct system and integration testing for the operation of the platform’s POC.

Expected Goals:

• Achieve a functional POC for the medication traceability platform, with successful integration of Midnight and Atala PRISM.

Progress Indicators:

• Number of lines of code published in the GIT repository.
• Successful integration with Midnight and Atala PRISM.
• Positive results from system and integration tests.

Final Milestone: Launch and Post-Launch Optimization (3 Month)

Final Milestone: Deliverables:

• Proof of Concept: Complete the proof of concept for the medication traceability system.
• Technical Documentation: Provide detailed technical documentation.
• Source Code: Updated and documented source code of the proof of concept.

Expected Goals:

• Present the results of the proof of concept.
• Showcase the proof of concept for the platform.

Progress Indicators:

• Final report.
• Video presentation of the proof of concept.

Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Roberto Cerrud:

Blockchain lead developer (Atala)

Plutus Pioneer, Atala Pioneer Program. 18+ years of experience as a developer. 25+ years of experience in technical support and DevOps. 8+ years of experience in mining, and extensive knowledge of blockchain technologies.

Currently teaches Haskell and Plutus Cohorts in Emurgo Academy.

<https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertojcerrud/>

David Tacuri

Software Engineer / Lead Full Stack Developer

David has participated in several projects of the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador., acquiring a profound understanding of health system. Additionally, he possesses technical expertise in various programming languages and databases. As an enthusiastic advocate for blockchain, David has conducted several presentations on blockchain and Cardano at schools and universities in Ecuador and Paraguay."

<https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-patricio-tacuri-lema-256a08b1/>

Fernando Yánez

Software Engineer / Full Stack Developer

Fernando has been involved in the process of creating solutions for insurance companies, possessing knowledge of multiple programming languages. He has worked in various industries, taking on roles such as developer, team leader, and project manager.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernando-y%C3%A1nez-burbano/

Jose Velázquez

Pharmaceutical and Medical Lab Specialist

A blockchain technology entrepreneur who has carried out several projects related to blockchain, including educational events in Paraguay, Ecuador, and Bolivia

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

No dependencies

How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

This project brings immense value to Cardano by establishing a foundational framework for medication traceability, setting a benchmark for future applications within the pharmaceutical industry.

The project’s impact will be profound, empowering millions of people by giving them access to essential information about the origins and quality of their medication.

Salaries for Expertise: The average salary for experienced developers and IT specialists was determined based on standards set by Ecuador’s Ministry of Labor. These salaries reflect the expertise and technical skills required to successfully implement the Cardano-based traceability project. This gives cardano quality work for a fraction of the price of 1st world country salaries