OBJECTIVES to assess the consequences in terms of outpatient pharmaceutical expenditure, that accounted for changes in state law on de-funding of medicines and the introduction of pharmaceutical co-payment in 2012 in Spain. METHODS Cross-sectional study during 2012. Two health regions of Spain (Comunitat Valenciana with 5,129,266 inhabitants and Extremadura with 1,108,130. Total population: 6,237,396) where analysed to determine the evolution of outpatient pharmaceutical expenditure after a change in state law (July 1, 2012). We compared the first over the second half of 2012 by age and gender distinction.    RESULTS The total spending was reduced by 16.80% after the new law. By gender, the reduction was greater in women (17.47% versus 15.25%). By age, the decrease was seen most sharply in the stretch of paediatrics (0 to 14 years). In older people, the stretch mostly affected was the one from 66 to 70 years old. The stretches with fewer changes in terms of outpatient pharmaceutical expenditure were 21-25 years (reduced by 5.42%) and 46-50 years (reduced by 6.07%). CONCLUSIONS After the de-funding of 400 drugs and the increase of pharmaceutical co-payment (40% previously and now variable, 40%, 50% and 60% depending on income levels), a drastic drop in the amount of pharmaceutical outpatient expenditure is observed. Further analysis is required in order to assess whether that decline is sustained over time or, on the contrary, a new phase of positive growth begins.