Health insurance pharmaceutical expenditures in Hungary

Introduction: In Hungary, health expenditures -especially the question of health insurance subsidies for medicinal products -are becoming increasingly important. Aim: The aim of our analysis is to reveal the state's health insurance expenditure between 2010 and 2016 as well as the amount of health insurance subsidies for medicinal products. Data and methods: Data were derived from the database of the National Health Insurance Fund of Hungary and of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office. During the analysis we examined the period between 2010 and 2016. We analysed the health expenditures in proportion to the gross domestic product (GDP) as well as the changes of drug traffic based on gross consumer prices and those of health insurance subsidies, and also our regional inequalities. When writing the present study, we used descriptive statistical methods. Results: The expenditures of the National Health Insurance Fund of Hungary significantly increased as proportions of the GDP from 5.5% in 2010 to 6.1% in 2016. The health insurance subsidies for medicinal products increased since 2013. The highest health insurance subsidies per 10 000 inhabitants could be seen in Baranya (405 788 HUF/inhabitant) and Csongrad (384 724 HUF/inhabitant) counties and in Budapest (377 316 HUF/inhabitant). The lowest health insurance subsidies were found in Nograd (289 168 HUF/inhabitant) and Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg (271 104 HUF/inhabitant) counties. Conclusion: The trends of health and drug expenditure show a growing tendency. We can find significant regional inequalities in case of both the drug traffic based on gross consumer prices and the health insurance subsidies. It would be needed to strengthen the elements of prevention, and to popularize health-conscious lifestyle and doing sports.