Surprise! Pharma Still Has A Poor Image
2 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // April 11th, 2007 // 9:31 am
You knew this. New research shows big pharma has an image problem. But here’s how bad it really is: Nearly as many Americans hold an “unfavorable†opinion of big pharma, 32 percent, as have a favorable opinion, or 35 percent, while 33 percent are neutral. Who fares worse? Oil and gas, chemicals, and tobacco. The poll of more than 1,000 US adults aged 18 or over was conducted by IPSOS market research.
However, drugmakers receive little recognition for social contributions and investments. Only a small fraction could name any company that develops vaccines to prevent an epidemic (4 percent), provides meds or medical equipment in case of major disaster (7 percent), or contributes to patient assistance programs (14 percent. If drugmakers could raise awareness of philanthropy, they could make gains in countering negative feelings, says IPSOS. toward the sector.
Meanwhile, this what people say they want from big pharma:
The full press release from IPSOS.[tags]Image[/tags]
Lew
Ed,
Although I don’t have the data at hand, I think this is actually an improvement over the past few years. The industry was negative for the past 3 or 4 years. As for the philanthropy side, I am convinced that IPSOS is wrong in its conclusion that raising awareness of the philanthropy will make a difference. There’s no indication that consumers want anything more than getting their meds for less money.
ed
Hi Lew,
That may be true, but I don’t recall myself. Then again, the results still aren’t so hot.
As for philanthropy, I guess a lot of people count themselves as idealists, and then many also believe corporate America should donate to whatever they believe is a worthy cause, or whatever.
Yesterday, I posted an item in which I suggested PhRMA create a foundation that would fund, with no strings attached, research into drugs that big pharma isn’t touching. I thought of that after reading the WSJ piece about the researcher who had to solicit his own trial patients to keep the wheels turning.
You’re right - people want affordable meds first. Then maybe a little philanthropy to make nice. Of course, it should be sincere, too.
Thanks for stopping by again,
ed