Wellgistics Health Inc. is deploying an XRP Ledger-based payment system for thousands of pharmacies across the United States, deepening its bet on blockchain as it looks to overhaul healthcare finance. The Nasdaq-listed distributor has announced that its new platform enables independent pharmacies to pay for drug inventory and move funds instantly, bypassing banking delays and high credit card fees. Integrated with RxERP, a serialized pharmaceutical e-commerce and enterprise resource planning system, the program promises real-time tracking, lower costs, and direct settlement between pharmacies and distributors. Pharmacies can now enroll in the beta version of the program. The system is built on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), an open-source blockchain with core development led by Ripple Labs. With a network of more than 6,500 pharmacies and 200 manufacturers, Wellgistics is one of the first healthcare companies to launch an XRPL payment solution at scale. The firm’s CEO, Brian Norton, said pharmacy owners have embraced the initiative, calling them more forward-thinking on blockchain than many in the industry assume. The program enables pharmacies to settle invoices over XRPL, though Wellgistics has not disclosed whether participants must hold XRP directly or use fiat-to-XRP conversions for settlement. The program was designed to meet strict compliance standards, including HIPAA and anti-money laundering requirements. After the pharmacy roll-out, Wellgistics plans to extend the platform to manufacturers and test direct-to-patient programs, allowing medications to be shipped from drugmakers directly to patients under physician oversight. By linking pharmacy payments to the XRP Ledger while preparing to hold XRP on its balance sheet, Wellgistics is aiming to position itself as both a user and financial backer of the blockchain.