EAST HANOVER, N.J., Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 80% of Americans believe US citizens should be able to purchase drugs from outside the US, according to a new study by NOP World Health. Canada is the only country, however, which the majority of Americans (60%) view as a safe source of prescription products. Just 30% would feel comfortable buying drugs from Western Europe-and comfort levels drop below 10% for other parts of the world. Only 4% of Americans, for instance, would feel comfortable, if they thought their prescription drugs came from Central America, the Middle East or Africa.
“Based on our findings, we can expect to see more Americans traveling to Canada to buy prescription drugs at lower prices than they can find in the US,” says Andrea McDonough, Senior Director of Market Events for NOP World Health. “We also can anticipate that Americans will be scrutinizing Web sites more closely to ensure the prescription drugs they’re buying come from Canada rather than another country.
“Our results show that-although they want to save money-Americans clearly feel there is a safety risk in buying prescription products outside the US, if the drugs come from anywhere but Canada. Since our first study in June, consumer awareness of safety issues, such as counterfeit drugs, has risen dramatically, with the Internet, newspapers and magazines cited as key sources of information.”
The desire to save money remains the primary reason Americans are willing to purchase drugs from non-US sources. A 25% discount seems to be the level that pushes consumers toward considering filling their prescriptions in Canadian, rather than American, pharmacies. Hypertension, depression/anxiety and high cholesterol are the classes most vulnerable to importation, as consumers seek to save on their prescriptions.
Although They Support Importation, Few Have Actually Acted
Although most Americans support importation, only one in 10 has actually acted to purchase a drug outside the US. Most often, those who have bought non-US drugs have either traveled to Canada or ordered Canadian drugs on the Internet.
Legislation may change that picture. Legislated approval of importation will most likely increase the chance that Americans will turn to Canada as a safe and less costly alternative source of prescription agents.
Healthcare Costs Cited as a Critical Issue That Neither Candidate Is Addressing Effectively
Consumers continue to cite healthcare costs as a critical issue, with the vast majority believing the situation has worsened over the past 5 years. Most blame pharmaceutical manufacturers and insurance companies for increasing prices-and also point fingers at the government and elected national officials.
“Spiraling healthcare costs will be an important topic in this year’s election,” says McDonough, “but neither candidate has an advantage in this area. A slightly higher percentage of Americans see John Kerry as more concerned about healthcare costs than George Bush-but a third don’t see either one as having an edge on healthcare cost issues.”
More Than 200 Consumers Share Their Views on Importation
NOP World Health collected its information on drug importation and re-importation from 203 consumers, between 18 and 65 years of age. Data was gathered via self-administered Internet surveys August 26 - 31, 2004. The surveys provided an update to NOP World Health’s June 2004 research on consumer perceptions of re-importation. The project is part of NOP World Health’s Event Flash(TM) program, which collects fast insights into key market events.
About NOP World Health ...
A leading supplier of primary research to the global healthcare community, NOP World Health is the health-focused arm of NOP World-a top-ten market research power worldwide. Bringing together some of the most renowned US and European research firms in a unified global network, NOP World is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UK-based United Business Media plc .
NOP World Health was formed in February by integrating three healthcare research leaders: Market Measures/Cozint, the premier supplier of US market and disease state analyses ... NOP Healthcare, UK-domestic and international quantitative and qualitative ad hoc consultancy and omnibus services ... and Strategic Marketing Corporation, the leader in strategic problem solving and consulting.
About United Business Media plc ...
United Business Media (http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/) is a leading provider of business information services to the technology, healthcare, media, automotive, financial services and property industries. UBM offers services in news distribution, market research, publishing and events to customers across the globe. In addition to NOP World, UBM brands include PR Newswire, the world’s leading corporate news distribution service and CMP, the business-to-business media and exhibition group operating in hi-tech, healthcare, property, entertainment, jewelry and fashion in the US, UK, Asia and Europe.
For More Information ...
For more information on NOP World Health’s drug importation and re-importation research, please contact Andrea McDonough, NOP World Health’s Senior Director of Market Events, at 609-683-6364 or amcdonough@nopworld.com.
For more information on NOP World, please visit our Web site at http://www.nopworld.com/ or contact Ilene Siegalovsky, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing and Communications, at 800-456-4405, ext. 3515 or isiegalovsky@noworld.com.
NOP World Health
CONTACT: Ilene Siegalovsky of NOP World Health, 1-800-456-4405,ext. 3515
