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The 2026 HPOR

The 12th annual Hospital Pharmacy Operations Report (HPOR) provides insight into the operational complexities hospitals face, offering a snapshot of the current challenges, priorities, and trends shaping hospital pharmacies nationwide.

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Hospitals That Cite
Drug Shortages as
a Top Issue

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78% of hospital pharmacy leaders ranked drug shortages as one of their top three issues for the seventh year in a row.

Hospitals That Experienced a Drug Diversion Event in the Last Year

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63% of hospitals reported a diversion event in the past year, and nearly half of those incidents were first detected by diversion monitoring software.

Hospitals That Manage Multiple Vendor Relationships for Purchasing

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80% of hospitals now use four or more vendors to ensure supply continuity and support cost savings goals.

70% of hospital pharmacies say streamlining purchasing to fight shortages is a top priority

Shortages have become an unavoidable reality, with nearly every hospital pharmacy making them a top operational concern. Leaders know they need smarter tools and streamlined workflows to respond faster and keep patients safe.

  • 10+ shortages at a time is the average a facility juggles on any given day
  • 11+ hours per week lost. Many pharmacy teams spend more than a full workday each week managing shortages
  • Only 16% of hospitals have adopted shortage management software, creating a massive opportunity for organizations to reclaim labor hours

49% of diversion events were first detected by monitoring software

Drug diversion is one of the most pressing compliance and patient safety risks for hospital pharmacies. The 2026 HPOR shows that technology is now the frontline defense, with software catching more diversion than any other method.

  • 94% of respondents use diversion monitoring technology, highlighting the shift towards automated approaches
  • Drug diversion programs still require significant labor investments with 60% of diversion teams spending 5+ hours per week identifying and resolving discrepancies
  • Diversion specialists look for EMR/ADC integration, proactive alerts, and intuitive workflows when evaluating new tools

72% of hospital pharmacies are tasked with reducing drug spend in 2026

Drug costs remain a top concern, with pharmacy leaders under pressure to hit savings goals while navigating an unreliable supply chain. The 2026 HPOR shows hospitals leaning heavily on purchasing analytics to cut costs without compromising patient care.

  • 70% of pharmacy leaders prioritize streamlining purchasing operations as they look to control costs
  • 79% of hospitals have defined savings targets of at least $250k this year, making measurable cost reduction a clear mandate
  • 80% of hospitals purchase from 4 or more different sources, highlighting the need for centralized insights and streamlined workflows

49% of respondents use AI tools in their workflows

AI tool adoption is prevalent within hospital pharmacy teams, but its full potential remains largely untapped. The 2026 HPOR shows that while pharmacy teams are embracing AI for reporting and diversion detection, gaps exist between where they believe AI can help and where it’s actually being used today.

  • 56% of respondents believe AI should support shortage prediction, yet only 9% of respondents use it for that purpose
  • 25% of respondents use AI-driven diversion detection tools, signaling its rapid rise as a core functional application
  • Accuracy concerns, privacy risks, and policy restrictions are cited as the most significant hurdles to broader AI adoption

See Past HPORs Here

Browse previous reports to see historical trends and shifts.

HPOR 2025

2025 Hospital Purchasing Operations Report

HPOR 2024

2024 Hospital Purchasing Operations Report