Reputation – Healthcare professionals (HCPs): Overview

Pharmaceutical companies operating in the continue to enjoy a strong reputation among healthcare professionals

Healthcare professional (HCP) familiarity with pharmaceutical companies operating in the UK has reached its highest level since this index began. HCPs are more familiar with it than any other sector tested. Nearly nine in 10 HCPs surveyed currently feel they know at least a fair amount about the sector. This is a considerable improvement on the level of familiarity in 2021 – when just seven in ten felt they know at least a fair amount about.  

This increase in familiarity is partly a result of higher reported levels of engagement with pharmaceutical companies. All forms of direct contact have increased since last year. HCPs report a higher level of interaction with reps and they are increasingly likely to have met with pharma General Managers.

HCP’s overall trust in pharmaceutical companies has gradually increased since 2020. But this slow increase does not indicate a statistically significant change in their degree of trust. Overall, pharmaceutical companies operating in the UK are the third most trusted types of organisation – of those we measure. The sector ranks behind health charities and research-conducting universities – both of which attract a significantly higher degree of trust.  

Levels of distrust continue to be low. Very few - just one in 10 (11%) HCPs distrust the sector. This is a lower level of distrust than other sectors, such as banks (22% distrust), energy companies (25%) and internet companies (18%).

HCP’s trust in pharma is underpinned by their positive perceptions of its R&D, regulatory standards, and clinical trial transparency.

Perceptions of pharma companies' work are overwhelmingly positive. Most agree that pharma companies produce safe, effective medicines that people need.

Its work is seen to save and improve lives. These companies are regarded as world-leading, committed to collaboration and to employ the latest, cutting-edge technology. HCPs also recognised that these companies invest significant sums of money on R&D

Just under half of HCPs are advocates of pharma companies in the UK and around one in ten are prepared to spontaneously speak highly about the sector to others. They are positive about improvements in transparency and the positive impact pharma innovation has on patient outcomes.  The regulatory standards that govern pharma activity are also a source of reassurance.

Pharmaceutical companies continue to gain recognition from HCPs for their contributions to medicine discovery, with around nine in ten HCPs agreeing that pharma companies both save and improve lives with their medicines and vaccines.

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