Pharmaceutical spending in Italy continues to climb. Total spending in 2024 amounted to €23.658 billion, an 8.6% increase from €21.766 billion in 2023. This represents a substantial 15.3% discrepancy in absolute terms when compared to total resources. The 2024 final balance shows an overrun of more than €4 billion in pharmaceutical spending for direct purchases by regional authorities. In addition to the trends observed in other countries, such as an aging population and the increasing cost of innovation, the increase in expenditure was also influenced by the increasing prices of a variety of medication. In comparison to 2023, the number of prescriptions issued (575.7 million prescriptions) increased by 1.3%.