Italy drug spending reaches €39.3 bn in 2025, antidiabetic use soars

The 2025 OsMed report from the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) shows total pharmaceutical expenditure in Italy rose 6% to €39.3 billion compared with the previous year. Public spending accounted for €28.4 billion (72.2% of total) and represents about 20% of overall health‑care outlays, while out‑of‑pocket spending by citizens reached €10.7 billion, up 7.5%.

Around 1.9 billion medication packages were dispensed, roughly 18 per person, and 66.9% of the population received at least one prescription. The report highlights a sharp increase in antidiabetic drug spending, which climbed 34.9% to €1.59 billion. Consumption of semaglutide and tirzepatide surged, with private‑sector (Fascia C) purchases rising 85.7% and spending up 75.8%. Tirzepatide alone generated €225 million in private spending, representing 13% of private class‑A drug costs.

The share of medicines with expired patents grew to 72.9% of total spend and 88.1% of consumption in the public system, while equivalent (non‑patented) drugs made up 23.5% of spend and 32.1% of use. Regional disparities persist: citizens in lower‑income regions such as Calabria, Sicily and Campania pay about €22.35 per capita, versus €13.73 in the north. The report also notes a double‑digit rise in psychotropic prescriptions among children and adolescents.