US drugmakers' reputation goes from bad to worse

Opinion pollster Harris Interactive has published details of its annual survey of 20 different industries' reputation, in which members of the public in the USA are asked about where each sector is doing a good or bad job of serving customers. The findings indicate that the already poor reputation of the pharmaceutical industry has dipped, although it remains net positive, while other health care-related sectors, such as health insurance and managed care, have net scores which are negative.

Harris Interactive has conducted its annual survey since 1997, during which time drugmakers have lost 45 points from a 60-point positive rating to just 15 in 2008. Since last year alone, six points have been lost by the sector. By contrast 90% of consumers believe supermarkets do a good job, versus 6% who disagree for a net score of 84. The two business sectors with the worst image are tobacco and oil, with -43 and -32 scores, respectively.

Although health insurance and managed care have both been battered as far as public confidence is concerned, with declines of 22 and 27 points, respectively, since the yearly survey began, the past year has seen some improvement with managed care firms up six points and health insurers showing double that improvement.