OBJECTIVES: The part of Hungarian drug provision system, which is available on social welfare list, changed several times and in different extents in recent years. The introduction of drug budget in 2006 and simultaneously the abolition of social welfare drug list implied the most significant change. The chief aim of our analysis to give a comprehensive overview about the main trends on this field examining the range of available products on social welfare list based on different aspects, also concerning the trends of demand, product structure, expenditures and patient burdens. METHODS: Changes of key points of relevant acts concerned in drug provision, the aggregated (not patient level) public turnover data of the Hungarian Health Fund and published number of patients involved in this reimbursement category were considered as the key sources and indicators of our evaluation. RESULTS: After regulation changes, demand (DOT) and number of patients within social welfare list category significantly decreased after 2006 until 2009, but since then both of them stagnate. Significant growth of reimbursement outflow within this segment can be observed until 2011, but after slight decrease. Part share of higher level reimbursement categories within reimbursement outflow increased. Demand moved to more expensive products, while patients were able to access to more innovative active ingredients in higher level reimbursement categories. Strong correlation can be observed between changes of acts and breaks in turnover trends. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the analysis may support objective judgement of the present social welfare provision system, as well as may contain considerable consequences regarding to potential ways of future structural changes, considering both interests of entitled patients (right to access innovative therapies) and the Health Fund (increase savings, improve efficiency). Further analysis based on real world (patient level) data may result more complex investigation opportunities of this patient segment and reimbursement category.