Sustainable Governance of Pharmacy Supply Chains with AI Integration: A Stakeholder Theory Perspective

Abstract

This paper develops a stakeholder-theory perspective on sustainable governance of pharmacy supply chains with artificial intelligence (AI) integration. It situates the problem in global, ASEAN, and Malaysian contexts where risks from substandard and falsified products, medication-safety losses, and uneven regulatory capacity challenge supply-chain integrity. Stakeholder theory is used to frame how regulators, manufacturers, distributors, pharmacists, patients, payers, and technology providers shape incentives for data sharing, transparency, safety, and environmental performance. Evidence from international guidance and regional policy shows how Good Distribution Practice, data-protection laws, and ASEAN pharmaceutical harmonization can be operationalised together with AI tools for forecasting, traceability, inventory stewardship, and cold-chain assurance. A conceptual governance model is proposed that links AI functionalities to stakeholder expectations and measurable outcomes, including safety incidents, stock-out frequency, waste reduction, and patient trust. The paper outlines researchable propositions and a mixed-methods agenda for empirical validation in Malaysia and across ASEAN, where rapid digital adoption and evolving health-data regulation create both opportunities and risks.