Gallup charts another big slide for pharma's public image

Another day, another survey showing that pharma's reputation stinks in the U.S. This time, though, the survey-taker is Gallup, and while the industry's rating is down significantly from last year, it's not nearly as bad as it was 10 years ago.

Gallup asks Americans their views on 25 different business sectors every year, and every year, pharma ranks in the bottom third. The survey respondents rate each industry on a five-point scale from very positive to very negative, and Gallup ranks the industries by their level of net-positive ratings.

The percentage of Americans with a positive view of pharma came in at just 35%, while 43% reported a negative view. That puts the negatives ahead of the positives by 8 points, for a -8. That result landed pharma in 23rd place out of the 25 industries reviewed.

Last year, pharma had a +4 rating--40% positive to 36% negative--it was first time on the positive side of the ledger since 2003. But overall views were on the high side then, Gallup notes, with the start of the Iraq war appearing to boost net-positive ratings to an all-time high of +23.

Politics have played a big role in some years, Gallup points out. A bad stretch for pharma in 2008, 2009, and 2010 coincided with the negotiations and debate over the Affordable Care Act. Pharma played a big role there, agreeing early on to back the law--included a set of agreed-upon rebates that would help fund it. That agreement made big headlines, and caught its share of flak.

Sen. Bernie Sanders

And politics could come to the fore again. With drug prices rising, and expensive specialty drugs making headlines, the public is taking note. One recent pharma-reputation survey suggested that pharma profits are taking their toll on the industry's already tarnished image. And as Gallup notes, presidential candidate and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is spotlighting drug cost with new legislation designed to temper price hikes.

"The combination of constantly rising prices and a presidential campaign in which drug companies are under attack leaves little likelihood that the pharmaceutical industry will gain much ground in public opinion over the next year," Gallup said in a story on its website.

But at least pharma beats out oil and gas and the federal government. The energy industry came in 24th place this year, with the feds at dead last.

Source