Pharmaceutical Industry News
Patients groups distrust big pharma
Friday, 12, March 2010
The majority of patients’ organisations consider pharmaceutical companies untrustworthy, according to a survey conducted by a UK-based consultancy to be released on Friday.PatientView, which monitors the views of patient groups around the world, says that from 665 organisations assessed, only 37 per cent considered the industry “trustworthy” in 2008, and less than a quarter had noted any improvement since then.
Detailed rankings compiled from patient groups with a close knowledge of the drug company’s products showed many continental European groups rated highly, while US and UK businesses were less well judged.Novartis of Switzerland performed best, and Baxter of the US worst.The ratings will add to the gloom in the drug sector, which is facing concerns over patient access to treatments as a result of rising unemployment in the recession and cutbacks in medical care.