Reputation – General Public: Relationship with the NHS

Perceptions of the sector’s relationship with the NHS remains positive, but unchanged year-on-year.

The public again tend to be positive about the relationship pharmaceutical companies operating in the UK have with the NHS. There is consistent recognition from just over three in five that the sector supports the NHS with treating patients.

The public are generally supportive of the sector collaborating with the health service. A majority believe pharmaceutical companies should work closely with NHS doctors to develop new medicines. There is little doubt that the sector is committed to developing new medicines to help meet people’s needs.

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A perception that pricing is high persists. There remains little support for rationing or delaying new medicines to help the NHS control costs

A majority continue to believe that the NHS overpays for medicines, though this is unchanged since last year and remains well below the level seen when this index started in 2020 (where the proportion who agreed the NHS pays too much was 63%). There has been little movement in the proportion of the public who believe that medicines in the UK are good value for money. Just one in three (32%) agree this is the case and many are on the fence.

There is little support for any trade-offs to control costs, such as rationing or delaying new medicines – majorities disagree either of these options are acceptable and few (25%) agree this is an acceptable option.

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