Reputation – General Public: Sector image
Read more about the image of the pharmaceutical sector among the general public in the UK
A sense that the sector is opaque persists.
COVID highlighted a lot of things I wasn't really aware of. These companies that were dealing with COVID as well, the UK dealt with it very, very quickly. In the end, we were shipping out supplies to other countries as well, so that just opened my mind up to more about the pharmaceutical industry. General Public Respondent
As in the first year of this reputation index, there is a sense that the sector could provide more clarity about its operations, including the processes behind its R&D and how medicine prices are determined. As of June 2022, 22% feel the sector is open and transparent about its activities, and few continue to have any knowledge of medicine pricing in the UK. However, public perceptions are warming, and over the past two years a higher proportion feel the sector is transparent about its work than do not. But, a minority still consistently disagree this is the case.
22%
22% feel the sector is open and transparent about its activities
I have become more aware of the hard work pharmaceutical companies have to do and how important what they do is. General Public Respondent
I am part of a COVID-19 vaccine trial, this has made me more aware of what the pharmaceutical companies are doing in the background to help. General Public Respondent
Focus groups conducted in 2021-2022 illustrated that public views are often based on speculation or ‘on the grapevine’ from others’ personal experiences, rather than hard facts. There is an appreciation that the discovery and development of medicines requires time and investment, but also a lack of understanding of the extent to which profits are used to fund these processes.
I'm not sure where or who decides on the actual cost of these things. Where does the cost come from? General Public Respondent
I sometimes google things you know, to see what I can find out. But with this industry, it’s so difficult to find anything proper, you know, where you can really learn everything. It would be good to learn more about the industry. General Public Respondent
This outlook is not necessarily unique to the pharma sector; in focus groups similar parallels have been drawn with other sectors, such as the energy industry.
Ipsos’ other research consistently shows that trust in ‘businesspeople’ is weaker than that for scientists or medical professionals, who tend to be among the most trusted professionals. Building greater understanding of the work pharma companies do will necessarily highlight the role of such individuals and may help to temper the often negative assumptions that are made about these companies as corporate entities.
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Last modified: 20 September 2023
Last reviewed: 20 September 2023