Ozempic, a drug intended for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (which contains semaglutide), is the drug in which public health has invested the most in 2024. It was thus registered an additional growth of 36.2%, reaching a turnover of 403.9 million euros compared to 296.5 million euros the previous year.
It should not be forgotten that these medications They are included in the pharmaceutical benefit of the National Health System (SNS) only to treat type 2 diabetes.
Its public spending has soared over the years: all because of increased demand, recording an increase of 78% in 2021; 44.5% in 2022 and 42% in 2023.
However, this Evolution places Ozempic as the drug with the greatest economic impact within the public pharmaceutical supply in 2024. This is indicated by the recent SNS report on pharmaceutical profits published this Thursday by the Ministry of Health.
In 2023, it was Atorvastine (medication for reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood and avoid heart attacks) the drug that costs the most to public health, which was completely supplanted by Ozempic in 2024. It remains in second position with an expenditure of 339 million euros in 2024, or 0.1% less than the previous one.
In addition to drugs based on semaglutide, the rest of the antidiabetics and Their combinations are the active ingredients whose consumption has increased the most over the past year.
For example, Dapagliflozin with an increase of 34.5%; Empagliflozin, 29.2% and the combination of both with Metformin with an increase of 21.7% and 23.3% respectively.
And which ones are the most in demand? Paracetamol It remains the most consumed drug in terms of number of generic presentations in 2023 and 2024.with 60.3 million containers billed in 2024.
In second place is Omeprazole, with 49.1 million, followed by the painkiller Metamizol, with 29.7 million.
pharmaceutical costs
The report reveals that in 2024, pharmaceutical expenditure invoiced to the SNS through medical prescriptions represented 13.865 million euros, or 650 more than in 2023. CThus, the pharmaceutical bill for 2024 compared to the previous year is 4.9%.
In terms of financing, they integrated in 2024 1,269 new drug presentations to the National Health System, i.e. 46% more than in 2023.
In addition, Between 2023 and 2024, 118 new medicines were financed, including 39 intended for the treatment or diagnosis of rare diseases.
Also stands out the incorporation in 2024 of three advanced therapiesincluding gene, cell and oncology therapy treatments financed under payment-by-results agreements.
Last year was the year in which the largest budget was invested in drugs, in part due to the inclusion of these advanced therapies.
In a hospital environmentbiosimilar drugs continue to increase their presence and will represent 11.9% of total drug consumption in 2024, while those intended for rare diseases represent 10.5% of consumption.
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