91 percent of U.S. consumers says pharma put profits over patients
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This is according to a Harris Poll study released today. Meanwhile, 36 percent of U.S. adults believe health care providers (such as doctors and nurses) put patients over profits, compared to hospitals (23%).
Additionally, the Harris Poll of more than 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18+ indicates that while most are neutral toward health care industries, more consumers rate health insurance (24%) and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies (20%) with low reputations, compared to hospitals (6%), health care providers (doctors and nurses) (5%) and technology (2%).
Fifty-eight percent rate the reputation of the technology industry as high, compared to health care providers (43%), hospitals (37%), pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies (20%), and health insurance companies (15%).
According to the Harris Poll Reputation Equity and Risk Across the Health Care Sector report, all health care stakeholders – hospitals, health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, providers and store pharmacists – suffer from consumer skepticism, but some experience it to a greater degree.
Nearly half of consumers say they think store pharmacists (49%) and health care providers (48%) offer high quality products and services, compared to hospitals (44%), pharmaceutical companies (31%), and health insurance companies (26%).
Roughly half of consumers believe providers (51%) and hospitals (49%) make a positive difference in the country, compared to store pharmacists (39%), health insurance companies (26%) and pharmaceuticals (26%). ■