Despite a slight erosion, the level of confidence in drugs remains high among the French. Whistleblowers are increasingly popular.
“It is in a climate of controversy over the price of drugs and access to treatment that the 6th wave of the Societal Observatory of Medicines took place” (1), recalled Monday Drug companies (LEEM). And this year, the survey provides a nuanced assessment of the perception and relationship of the French to health products. While the level of confidence deteriorates for vaccines, which are the subject of increasingly worrying skepticism, it remains very high in drugs (84%).
But although the level of confidence is substantial, it deteriorates for almost all drugs: prescription (- 5 points), reimbursed (- 4 points), brand name (- 2 points), non-reimbursed (- 1 point ), without prescription (- 3 points), and vaccines (- 2 points).
In the end, only homeopathy is progressing in the minds of the French with a level of confidence up 2 points (73%).
The acclaimed whistleblowers
Despite a slight erosion, levels of trust in health professionals (general practitioners, specialists, pharmacists, nurses) remain enviable. For their part, whistleblowers are gaining momentum (69%, + 24 points).
Note that drug companies have fallen by 4 points: only 45% of French people trust them when it comes to information on drugs. However, they remain in front of the written press, radio, television, Internet and politicians.
A logical result since this new wave of the annual LEEM survey is also characterized by a deterioration in the image of companies in general.
Utility, innovation and efficiency
And to understand this attachment, three characteristics that best correspond to drug companies stand out: Utility, innovation and efficiency.
Encouraging sign, the drug industry is progressing slightly on behavior items: the French consider them a little less opaque, and more respectful of the environment and their employees. Drug companies are also making progress on honesty and transparency items, although the scores remain low.
(1) Ipsos study for Leem, carried out with 1,000 people interviewed online between 9 and 16 June 2016 (sample aged 18 and over, representative of the national population).
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