July 28, 2026- Vizient released its summer 2026 Spend Management Outlook, projecting 3.54% pharmacy inflation and 4.73% indirect spend and purchased services inflation for 2027. Growth in technology, facilities, construction, and other non-clinical services reflects the expanding role these investments play in healthcare organizations’ overall spending. Together, these trends are projected to drive overall supply chain, capital, and purchased services inflation to 3.39% in 2027, underscoring the need for healthcare organizations to manage costs across both clinical and operational categories.
Pharmacy spending continues to follow patients beyond the hospital
Care will continue to move beyond the traditional hospital setting, reshaping where healthcare organizations invest and how they plan for future demand. Overall ambulatory pharmacy inflation is projected at 3.64%, driven by projected inflation of 4.04% for specialty and complex medications.
Investment in technology infrastructure and operational services continues to fuel indirect spend growth
As healthcare organizations continue investing in clinical informatics, AI-enabled diagnostics, and digital transformation there will be growing costs associated with both the acquisition and utilization of these capabilities. Projections show the inflation increase of these indirect spend categories will be driven by continued increases in IT security (8.50%), IT hardware and accessories (8.00%), and IT software and licensing (7.50%) as organizations strengthen operations.
Beyond technology spending, organizations continue to face growing pressure from wider macroeconomic trends driving up the cost of food (4.16% projected increase), construction (4.70%), and capital equipment (4.15%). These investments increasingly influence organizational resilience, services continuity and long-term performance, requiring greater coordination across finance, supply chain, operations, and clinical leadership.
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Read more in the Vizient Spend Management Outlook.