By an overwhelming majority, Americans believe
prescription drugs significantly improve their health
and quality of life, but almost as many say the
companies that make them put their profits ahead of
the well-being of consumers, according to a new poll
released. The survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation
found that 78 percent of adults say prescription
drugs make a "big difference" in people's lives, and
91 percent believe drug companies contribute
significantly to society by researching and
developing new drugs. But 70 percent think the
pharmaceutical companies that produce them are more
concerned "about making profits" than developing new
drugs, according to the survey. The poll found that
a large majority of Americans want the government to
do more to reduce drug costs - with 65 percent saying
they want more government regulation of prices and 73
percent favoring changes that would allow Americans
to buy cheaper drugs from Canada. "Rightly or wrongly,
drug companies are now the number one villain in the
public's eye when it comes to rising healthcare
costs," foundation President Drew E. Altman said.
Marc Kaufman, The Washington Post, 02/26/2005
For complete story, see http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53273-2005Feb25.html
