Yet another survey shows U.S. consumer dissatisfaction with big pharma

The public relations departments at American pharmaceutical manufacturers can’t be too pleased about the results of a new Harris Poll out this week that shows only nine percent of U.S. consumers believe “pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies put patients over profits.”

Further, only 26% of survey respondents believe that pharmaceutical companies “make a positive difference in the country,” compared to 51% for health care providers and 49% for hospitals.

These survey results come only a few months after the release of a survey showing the majority of American voters blame drug companies for high drug prices. That survey, conducted by North Star Opinion Research for the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, found that three quarters of voters say the cost of prescription drugs is too high, and 55 percent said that drug companies are most to blame for high drug costs.

This comes at a time when pharmaceutical industry insiders are waiting to see how the incoming Trump Administration and new Congress will address the issue of high drug costs.

According to the Harris Poll, consumers believe it is most important for health care organizations to demonstrate ethics (62% say very important) and quality (57%).

Further, while a majority (55%) of consumers say health care providers will provide solutions to the health care industry’s challenges, only 32% said pharmaceutical companies will provide them -- while only 7% said retail pharmacies.

According to Harris Poll, this survey, “The 2016 Study of Reputation Equity and Risk Across the Health Care Sector” was based on a sample of 1,018 U.S. adults ages 18 and over surveyed online between June 9 and June 16, 2016.