Therapeutic groups

Gross spend in millions

  Therapeutic group Main indication 2021 2022 2023 2024

1

Immunosuppressants

Autoimmune conditions and cancer

$361.3

$396.0

$374.9

$440.2

2

Vaccinations

Vaccine preventable diseases including COVID-19

$113.9

$112.0

$130.1

 

3

Diabetes

Diabetes

$91.8

$123.7

$148.3

$173.2

4

Chemotherapeutic agents

Cancer

$137.7

$148.9

$154.2

$158.0

5

Mucolytics

Cystic fibrosis

$4.7

$14.1

$44.3

$130.3

6

Antivirals

Hepatitis C and COVID-19

$61.3

$42.2

$54.5

 

7

Antifibrinolytics, Haemostatics and Local Sclerosants

Haemophilia

$54.7

$58.8

$60.6

$90.6

8

Inhaled long-acting beta-adrenoreceptor agonists

Respiratory conditions

$67.4

$75.6

$74.2

$75.8

9

Antithrombotic agents

Stopping blood clots

$86.2

$96.5

$104.7

$57.0

10

Multiple sclerosis treatments

Multiple sclerosis

$39.3

$44.0

$50.1

$52.9

11

Agents Affecting the Renin-Angiotensin System

Heart failure and high blood pressure

$22.1

$31.7

$39.1

$49.5

12

Endocrine Therapy

Cancer

$47.8

$43.7

$40.7

$43.0

13

Antipsychotics

Mental health

$37.2

$38.5

$40.8

$42.2

14

Anticholinergic Agents

Respiratory conditions

$31.4

$33.3

$35.0

$38.1

15

Antiretrovirals

HIV/AIDS

$26.6

$28.2

$31.9

$34.9

16

Diabetes Management

Diabetes

$26.7

$29.4

$31.9

$34.9

17

Antiepilepsy Drugs

Epilepsy and pain relief

$25.6

$29.4

$29.7

$31.3

18

Oral and Enteral Feeds

Nutritional needs

$20.2

$23.5

$26.2

$29.8

19

Analgesics

Pain relief

$27.5

$26.6

$27.0

$29.6

20

Stimulants/ADHD Treatments

ADHD and narcolepsy

$11.4

$13.4

$17.0

$22.5

 

 

Totals

$1,294.8

$1,407.7

$1,515.3

$1835.2

  • Medicines purchased by hospitals (worth $145 million in 2023/24) are excluded
  • Gross spend is shown in millions NZD, is exclusive of GST, and is prior to the application of rebates and discounts
  • Gross spend for 2020/21 to 2022/23 is different to what was reported in previous YIR Top 20 lists as the methodology has been revised due 
    to an increase in the number and type of medicines funded
  • The total gross spend for 2023/24 was $2,511 million, and the top 20 therapeutic groups account for 72% of the total
  • COVID-19 Treatments and Vaccines were funded from the National Pharmaceutical Purchasing Appropriation from 2023/24
  • COVID-19 Treatments and and COVID-19 Vaccines pricing is confidential, and as COVID-19 gross spend is only included from 2023/24, gross 
    spend for those therapeutic groups is not stated for confidentiality