Public perception plays an important role in policymaking, the regulatory direction of the pharmaceutical industry, and the
status of the pharmaceutical industry itself. The pharmaceutical industry and the US Food and Drug Administration received
a reality check when they learned the public's opinions of their activites. Last month, American University's Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies (Washington, DC) announced results from a national survey assessing public views about the safety of prescription medicines,
the Food and Drug Administration, and overall satisfaction with the US healthcare system (1).
"At a time when Congress is reviewing and debating legislation to strengthen the safety of prescription medicines and overhaul
the FDA, this survey validates that drug safety is a real concern for the American public," said James Thurber, director of
the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University, in a university release. "The survey shows some
support for the concept of a Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act; however, there is a clear desire and expectation
among participants for regulators to balance speed of approvals with their responsibility of reducing safety risks."
The survey was conducted by the Mellman Group and Public Opinion Strategies on Sept. 4–6, 2007. Eight hundred adults were
interviewed for the survey.
Geographic source of drugs.
The issue of drug imports and the safety of products made abroad is now receiving a great deal of attention. The survey showed
strong confidence in the safety of prescription drugs made and sold in the United States, with 88% of survey respondents reporting
they were confident of the safety of drugs made in the United States. That confidence level drops off markedly for drugs
made in Europe and Canada and sold in the US. Only 56% of respondents said they were confident about such products. This level
falls even lower for prescription drugs made in India and China and sold in the US. Just 14% of survey respondents said they
were confident of these products.
Overall public perception of FDA.
The public's view of FDA was mixed. On the positive side, survey respondents regarded FDA as the most trustworthy group of
four major groups: FDA, consumer advocate groups, Congress, and pharmaceutical companies. Survey respondents, were less enthused
about the performance of the FDA. Only 53% of survey respondents rated the FDA as excellent or good, and 47% rated it as only
fair or poor.
Understanding of FDA's role in drug approvals.
The survey showed the public's uncertainty about FDA's role in the drug-approval process. Only 54% of survey respondents
believe that all prescription drugs sold in the US have been approved by FDA, and 37% say just some of them have received
approval.
The survey also addressed the difficult balance between safety and risk in approving new drugs. Opinions about how well FDA
handles that balance were mixed. Almost three-fourths (72%) of survey respondents say FDA's most important goal when approving
new drugs is to make sure a drug carries no risk or serious side effects before it is authorized for marketing. Only 23% of
respondents said they would want new drugs available as fast as possible, even if there may be some risk to patients.
Despite the public's strong leaning toward risk-aversion in the drug-approval process, it still thinks that the drug-approval
process is too long. Forty-one percent of respondents say it takes the FDA too long to approve a drug and allow it to be sold
to consumers. Only 34% say it is about right, and 18% think the process is not long enough.
FDA funding and the public.
There public is also confused about where FDA receives its funding: 54% say it is from the government, 20% from pharmaceutical
companies, and 17% say it is from both the government and pharmaceutical companies.
The public is evenly divided on the issue of user fees, with 47% in favor of user fees, and 46% opposed to pharmaceutical
companies paying user fees to FDA.
