Public affairs and communications management

Research analysing parliamentarians’ attitudes towards the pharmaceutical industry has highlighted a lack of trust in the sector despite widespread agreement about its economic value.

The pharmaceutical industry faces a period of significant reform, with changes to the role of NICE, the introduction of value-based pricing and wider reforms to healthcare commissioning. In recognition of this radical government agenda for healthcare, the research, commissioned by Westminster Advisers, a leading public affairs company, and conducted by ComRes, one of the UK’s top polling agencies, looks at MPs’ opinions of the sector and the issues it faces.

The research report, The Pharmaceutical Industry and Parliament, reveals that although a vast majority of MPs value the economic contribution of the pharmaceutical sector, fewer than half trust the communications they receive from the industry. Worryingly for the pharmaceutical industry, a majority are concerned that the industry does not provide the NHS with a value for money service.

Dominic Church, Managing Director of Westminster Advisers said:
“Our research shows that the pharmaceutical sector needs to do more to demonstrate its value to the nation’s health. Given the number of new MPs we surveyed, our research shows that the pharmaceutical industry is at risk of getting off on the wrong foot with this parliament.”

Tom Black, Head of Healthcare Research at ComRes, said:
“Value for money is the be all and end all for all public policy debates at the present time. Improving levels of trust among MPs towards the communications they receive from the pharmaceutical industry is crucial if pharma is to put itself on the right side of the value debate.”

For a full copy of the report, please click here