SUS expenditure on medicines reached 4.4 million euros in 2025. This value represents an increase of more than 60% compared to 2020, the year in which the pandemic arrived in Portugal.
According to data from Infarmed, the SNS spent last year R$ 2.53 million in hospital medicines e 1.89 million in contribution of medicines in an outpatient clinic.
Since 2020, hospital spending on medicines has increased annually by around double digits. In the year of the pandemic, hospitals spent 1.39 million; in 2021, the value reached R$1.57 million, in 2022 it reached R$1.76 million, in 2023 it reached R$1.95 million and in 2024 it totaled R$2.26 million.
The increase in costs is associated with new therapiesaimed at treating more complex diseases, such as oncological or rare pathologies, notes Agência Lusa.
A oncology This is where hospitals spend the most on medicines. In 2025, expenses reached R$864.5 million, 16% more than in 2024, representing around 34% of all hospital expenses.
Next, medicines for HIV, with 238 million euros, and those intended for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, with 186.5 million.
Vaccines registered the biggest percentage increasewith an increase of 69.8%, reaching R$85.5 million.
With regard to contributions, the antidiabetics lead SUS charges, representing almost R$478 million, 14.7% more than in 2024. Among the active substances, Apixaban, used to prevent blood clots, recorded the biggest increase in spending, with an increase of 70%.
Atorvastatin, used to treat cholesterol, was the most used active substance in the country, with more than 8.5 million boxes dispensed, followed by paracetamol, bisoprolol, used for hypertension and metformin, indicated for diabetes.
A Santa Maria Local Health Unitin Lisbon, was the one that recorded the highest expenditure on medicines in 2025. They were followed by ULS Coimbra and ULS São Joãono Porto.
External consultation and products provided abroad represent the largest share of hospital expenditure, followed by day hospital and inpatient care. You primary health care They were, nevertheless, the area with the highest percentage growth in expenditure, registering an increase of 66.5%.
