Pharmaceutical companies are in a tough position vis à vis their publics these days. In the most general sense, their mandate is to produce drugs and equipment that improve and save people’s lives. But pharmaceutical companies are also businesses, traded on the stock market, responsible to investors and therefore motivated by profit. To find out how the general public feels about these potential conflicts, Ipsos World Monitor asked adults in 12 countries how much they agreed or disagreed with the following two statements:
- 'The pharmaceutical industry cares more about profits than people.' - 'Pharmaceutical drug prices are justified because companies need money to research and develop new drugs.'
In all 12 countries surveyed, majorities believe the pharmaceutical industry cares more about profits than people. Less skepticism exists about the way the industry uses the money it gets from its pricing policies: in 5 of the 12 countries, majorities consider drug prices to be justified because they fund research and development.
