Austria’s first medicines report brings together reimbursement, access and expenditure data that were previously reported separately. It shows that most treated patients obtain medicines through the standard reimbursement code, while spending growth is increasingly concentrated in patent-protected products and medicines funded outside the code.
The Austrian Federation of Social Insurance Institutions (Dachverband der Sozialversicherungsträger, DVSV) published Medicines Report 2026 (Heilmittelreport 2026) on 15 July. DVSV plans to update the report periodically, creating a new official reference series for ambulatory medicines expenditure and reimbursement.
The Reimbursement Code (Erstattungskodex, EKO) contained 7,756 packs in 2025, 47% more than when it was introduced in 2005. Around 90% of patients receiving reimbursed medicines obtained all their medicines through the standard green and yellow EKO categories without individual approval.
The report also draws on the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations Patients W.A.I.T. Indicator. Its cited 2020–2023 cohort showed 82% of newly authorised medicines available in Austria and a mean 339 days from EU authorisation to availability, against 578 days across the EU. The newer 2021–2024 W.A.I.T. cohort puts Austria at 85% availability and 363 days, compared with an EU27 mean of 597 days.
Social-insurance medicines expenditure reached €4.9 billion in 2025, up 7.5% in one year and 88.2% since 2013. Patent-protected medicines without competition accounted for 77.2% of EKO expenditure. Medicines reimbursed outside the EKO added €655.6 million, or 13.2% of total costs.
The report establishes a recurring evidence base for examining how Austria combines relatively broad access with rapidly rising expenditure and the extent to which competition moderates prescription costs.
Source: Austrian Federation of Social Insurance Institutions
Link: Dachverband der Sozialversicherungsträger stellt erstmals Heilmittelreport vor (Austrian Federation of Social Insurance Institutions presents Medicines Report for the first time)
Date: 15 July 2026
Source: European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations
Link: Patients W.A.I.T. Indicator 2025 Survey
Date: 19 May 2026
