Hungary centralises inventory management for medical consumables

New rules affecting public health institutions and suppliers

On 26 May 2025, the Hungarian Government published Government Decree 110/2025. (V. 26.) (the Decree), introducing a mandatory centralised inventory management regime for medical consumables used by public healthcare institutions. The Decree amends the regulatory framework under:

• Government Decree 43/1999. (III.3.) on the financing rules of health services from the Health Insurance Fund; and
• Government Decree 516/2020. (XI.25.) on the tasks of the National Directorate General for Hospitals (Országos Kórházi Főigazgatóság, OKFŐ).

The new provisions, which came into force on 1 June 2025 (for institutional roles) and 3 June 2025 (for financing rules), mark a significant shift in the operational and financial functioning of Hungarian public healthcare providers, with considerable implications for medtech suppliers.

1. Centralised management

The Decree designates OKFŐ as the sole entity responsible for the central management, stockpiling and distribution of medical consumables for state-maintained and operated healthcare providers, national institutes (e.g. specialist hospitals) and other state-affiliated healthcare providers.

The legislator has left open the question of exactly which consumables are covered by the centralised management.

The centralisation is justified on grounds of efficiency, economies of scale and enhanced oversight of institutional consumption and supply flows.

2. Monthly reporting and settlement

OKFŐ will compile monthly reports detailing consumables procured on behalf of each institution and submit these to the National Health Insurance Fund Manager (NEAK) by the 20th day of the following month.

Based on the report:

• NEAK will offset the monetary value of the procured items from each institution’s upcoming monthly financing disbursement; and
• OKFŐ will receive this deducted amount directly from NEAK.

This new model offers a cashless settlement system, whereby institutions receive supplies without direct payment obligations but later see these costs netted from their state financing.

3. Deferred offsets where the 10% monthly threshold is exceeded

Where the monthly value of consumables exceeds 10% of an institution’s monthly financing allocation, NEAK is required to spread the recovery of costs over multiple months, such that the offset does not exceed 10% of any given month’s financing. The Decree refers to Section 9/A of Act LXXXIII of 1997 (on mandatory health insurance benefits) to clarify that any outstanding debts under this regime will be subject to standard statutory settlement rules applicable to publicly financed healthcare services.

4. Implications

The centralised procurement and management system of consumables reflects Hungary’s direction towards state-controlled operational harmonisation in the public healthcare sector, similarly to public hospitals’ IT systems and workforce deployment. Under the new management system, public healthcare institutions will:

• become dependent on ordering everyday medical consumables;
• need to adjust to delayed or partial financial impacts arising from consumption; and
• be subject to increased oversight and uniformity in supply-chain use.

Medtech suppliers active in Hungary should monitor upcoming public tenders, review product portfolio alignment with central requirements, prepare for expected tendering cycles and adapt to the commercial terms of the centralised procurement body.