Toward resilient and sustainable healthcare supply chains: a scoping review and framework

A persistent gap in the literature is the lack of a clear definition of healthcare supply chain management (HCSCM) that distinguishes it from conventional supply chains, alongside the need to integrate sustainability and resilience into healthcare supply chain (HCSC) design and operations. We address this gap by examining research published between January 2010 and May 2025 with three aims: (a) consolidate evidence from research and practice to refine what is uniquely “healthcare” in supply chain management; (b) explain how sustainability and resilience interact across supply, internal, and demand layers; and (c) derive guidelines that integrate theory and practice. We conducted a scoping review using systematic searches, computational analysis, and manual screening. Topic modelling and large language models were also applied to triangulate themes and check consistency. Results indicate that sustainable and resilient HCSCM requires a broad, stakeholder-inclusive approach to support patient care, scalability, and operational performance. We proposed a framework that illustrates the complex relationship between sustainability and resilience in HCSCs, especially under crisis and persistent operational challenges. The framework advocates for strategies such as diversified sourcing, transparent communication, proactive climate threat measures, and targeted adoption of technological advancements. The insights from this paper offer coherent conceptualization and decision-relevant guidance for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers.