Resilience and risk management in blood supply chains: a systematic review

PurposeThis study aims to explore how risk management and resilience have been addressed in the blood supply chain literature, focusing on dominant themes, methodological trends, and existing gaps. Given the sensitivity of blood products and the vulnerability of blood supply chains to disruptions, the study seeks to identify how researchers have approached uncertainty, network design and crisis management.Design/methodology/approachA systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA protocol. Scientific databases were screened for studies published up to 2024. From an initial pool of 436 papers, 34 met the inclusion criteria. These papers were analyzed using a combination of scientometric mapping and qualitative content analysis to uncover methodological patterns, thematic clusters and research trends.FindingsResults show that 52.9% of the reviewed studies rely on quantitative approaches, especially mathematical modeling. Key research focuses include supply chain network design (38.2%), large-scale disruptions (26.6%), and demand fluctuations (17.6%). Stochastic, robust and multi-objective programming were the most commonly applied techniques. Despite noticeable conceptual development, 61.8% of studies lacked real-world applications or case-based validation, indicating a major gap between theory and practice.Originality/valueThis study offers a comprehensive and integrated perspective by combining scientometric analysis with qualitative synthesis. It clarifies prevailing paradigms, reveals ignored but critical research areas, and highlights the need for more empirical and field-based studies. The review provides a roadmap for future research aiming to enhance resilience and risk management in blood supply chains.