Year in Review: Top 20 therapeutic groups by gross spend
| Rank | Therapeutic Group | Main Indication | 2015/ 16 |
2016/ 17 |
2017/ 18 |
2018/ 19 |
2019/ 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $m | $m | $m | $m | $m | |||
| 1 | Immunosuppressants | Autoimmune conditions, arthritis, transplant and biologics for cancer | $162.4 | $192.1 | $216.9 | $247.7 | $279.9 |
| 2 | Antivirals | Hepatitis C | $22.1 | $124.8 | $84.4 | $144.0 | $135.1 |
| 3 | Vaccinations | Vaccine preventable diseases | $92.4 | $97.6 | $137.1 | $125.0 | $124.0 |
| 4 | Chemotherapeutic Agents | Cancer | $75.1 | $83.3 | $86.1 | $93.5 | $103.6 |
| 5 | Antithrombotic Agents | Stopping blood clots | $63.5 | $53.0 | $56.0 | $66.1 | $75.9 |
| 6 | Diabetes | Diabetes | $50.6 | $53.9 | $57.5 | $63.4 | $75.8 |
| 7 | Inhaled long-acting beta-adrenoceptor agonists | Respiratory conditions | $55.4 | $53.0 | $55.8 | $58.4 | $63.4 |
| 8 | Antifibrinolytics, haemostatics and local sclerosants | Haemophilia | $29.6 | $29.2 | $28.2 | $33.0 | $50.3 |
| 9 | Endocrine therapy | HRT | $28.2 | $32.0 | $35.8 | $38.1 | $41.2 |
| 10 | Antipsychotics | Mental health | $33.3 | $35.7 | $37.0 | $33.1 | $35.6 |
| 11 | Multiple sclerosis treatments | Multiple Sclerosis | $20.2 | $24.6 | $28.5 | $30.1 | $33.3 |
| 12 | Anticholinergic agents | Respiratory conditions | $18.4 | $18.6 | $22.7 | $25.9 | $28.8 |
| 13 | Antiepilepsy drugs | Epilepsy | $33.9 | $35.5 | $37.5 | $36.4 | $26.7 |
| 14 | Diabetes management | Blood glucose monitors and strips | $19.1 | $20.6 | $22.2 | $24.8 | $25.1 |
| 15 | Antiretrovirals | HIV/AIDS | $25.4 | $27.8 | $30.5 | $24.5 | $24.0 |
| 16 | Oral supplements/complete diet (Nasogastric/gastrostomy tube feed) | Special food | $10.8 | $13.0 | $15.7 | $16.7 | $17.9 |
| 17 | Analgesics | Pain relief | $20.4 | $19.2 | $18.1 | $17.8 | $17.4 |
| 18 | Agents affecting the Renin-Angiotensin system | Blood pressure, heart failure, kidney failure and effects of diabetes | $12.3 | $11.8 | $12.3 | $12.5 | $15.5 |
| 19 | Treatments for substances dependence | Addiction | $15.2 | $14.9 | $16.3 | $16.4 | $13.7 |
| 20 | Antibacterials | Bacterial infections | $14.2 | $13.9 | $13.5 | $12.9 | $13.3 |
| Totals | $802.5 | $954.5 | $1,012.1 | $1,120.3 | $1,200.5 |
The data above excludes hospital purchases.
List order has been determined by top spend in the financial year 2019/20.
Gross spend is shown in millions NZD and is exclusive of GST, and prior to the application of rebates and discounts.