OE2026: Government cuts more than 200 million in medicines and clinical supplies.

The government will cut more than 200 million euros in spending on medicines and clinical supplies, according to the explanatory note of the State Budget for 2026, which foresees a reduction of 136 million euros in goods and services.

The explanatory note, which Lusa had access to, estimates a reduction of 208 million euros (-6%) in purchases of medicines and clinical consumables for 2026, in line with the 10% variation considered in the 2026 State Budget.

It also notes that the increase in consumption of medicines and clinical consumables in the National Health Service (SNS) recorded in 2025 reflects the growth in healthcare activity, particularly surgical activity, the aging population, and the introduction of innovative therapies, especially in areas such as oncology, infectious diseases, and chronic diseases.

Contacted by Lusa, health economics expert Pedro Pita Barros said it was unclear how the planned cuts could be reconciled with the increase in healthcare activity.

"It means that this cut is only compatible with increased activity and increased use of medications and other things, if there is a reduction in the prices at which they are purchased," said the expert, adding: "If I'm going to spend less, but consume more, then the price has to drop enough to compensate."

Pita Barros admits that some of the 10% savings imposed by the 2026 budget on goods and services may lie in the transfer of expenditure on temporary workers, which is intended to be reduced and may, in terms of expenditure, be transferred to personnel expenses, which will increase by 717.8 million euros (total of 7,767.3 million) in 2026, compared to the 2025 budget (7,049 million), and by 368.9 million (+5%) compared to the 2025 estimate for this group (7,398.4 million).

He considers it "doubtful" that the 10% cut is justified solely by this transfer of values, admitting that there will have to be "some price compression". "Then it's necessary to explain how they expect to have lower average prices for what they consume. Either I have lower prices, or I switch to cheaper medicines."

"The prevailing feeling is that it was decided arbitrarily, that it was good to have these savings, but then we'll see how we're going to achieve them," he added.

The expert said that the health budget seems more like "fiction" to him, questioning how it will be distributed within the National Health Service.

“It was important to understand whether the expected revenues for the National Health Service (SNS) compensate for the expenditure that will be made in the SNS,” he stated, emphasizing: “If they are using the expenditure projected for 2025 as the basis for the increase for 2026, and not the actual foreseeable expenditure, we are once again entering into that old discussion of under-budgeting.”

The health economics expert also noted that it is unclear from the explanatory note where the projected €1,289.5 million in own revenue will come from: "I believe the only thing we can assume is that own revenue will be transfers that will have to be made by the Ministry of Finance, the usual capital injections."

The explanatory note refers to the revenue of the National Health Service (SNS), which, after decreasing by 3.4% (-562 million euros) in 2025 compared to the initially projected value, will increase by 6.2% (+996 million euros) in 2026. This evolution results essentially from the behavior of transfers from the State Budget to the Health Budget Program, which are expected to increase by +384 million euros (+2.7%) in 2025 compared to the initial estimate and by +472 million euros (+3.2%) in 2026 compared to the estimated execution of 2025.

In terms of revenue evolution from taxes, contributions and fees (including user fees, social gaming revenue and fees received by INEM), this item is expected to grow by +32 million euros (+9.7%) in 2026.

Regarding NHS spending, after increasing by 3.4% (+572 million) in 2025 compared to the initially projected value, it will rise by 4.5% (+777 million) in 2026 compared to the same period. Personnel expenses are expected to grow by 5.2% (+375 million) in 2026.