Thomas Jefferson said…“Wherever people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own governance.”
Or was it - That they can trust their own government?
In the latter case, is naivety not bliss?
In the former case the encroachment of a ‘nanny state culture’ into that most personal of areas, our health, had potentially, in recent times, reached the stage of dangerous disempowerment.
Surely, an information rich person can be trusted to govern their own health?
Or will it take the transition to a knowledge society before we will see the empowered health consumer really in a position of self-trust?
In either case trust is fundamental.
Today it is still predominantly the case of trust in ones physician, the treatment prescribed and particularly the Pharma products that make up that treatment.
In the future it will be the trust one places in the accessible knowledge.
Arguably, today we find ourselves in transition between the information and knowledge societies.
However, trust maintains its pivotal role.
As our society transitions information growth remains exponential.
We are, or can easily become, informed about all matters Pharma.
The result - people don’t trust Pharma?
We all know the reasons – don’t we?
Surely the question is how….
Surely the question is how can Pharma regain the trust of its constituency? The patients, physicians, payers and regulators with whom they have a symbiotic relationship?
Do people Trust Pharma?
A glance at the archive of Newsvine for stories dealing with Pharma shows how deeply suspicion of the Industry runs.
And why should we trust Newsvine I hear you ask? Why is this source of opinion, definitive?
Simple, it’s written by people like you and I.
People trust people.
And when people don’t trust they look for alternatives.
Now, Pharma may argue that there are no viable alternatives to themselves.
But, that is not quite the whole truth – is it?
Neutaceuticals, a lack of compliance or just simply ignoring treatment are all outcomes that reduce Pharma product sales.
So Pharma may be heading towards a difficult time.
Aesop advised us to “Never trust the advice of one in difficulties”
So, is it possible for Pharma to win back the trust of its stakeholders?
Pharma Winning Trust
Tom Demarco’s advice is that “You acquire trust by giving trust”.
He also writes that “Giving trust is not simple. The talent that is an essential ingredient of leadership tells the leader whom to trust and how much to trust and when to trust”.
[See: T. Demarco: ‘SLACK, Getting past Burnout, Busywork and the Myth of Total Efficiency.’
One way that Pharma might win back some trust from people is to engage with them on the Social Web.
That’s where people talk to one another about what matters to them and what’s real for them. They talk about what works and about what doesn’t work.
They educate themselves and they become informed.
‘Those who trust us educate us” T.S. Eliot
The Pharma Question
Will Pharma help build that trust and education?
Could Pharma be responsible for inducing or hastening the transition to a knowledge based stakeholder community?
Can Pharma shift its paranoia about ‘negative reporting’ and embrace what is happening with or without its engagement?
“When defeat is inevitable, it is wisest to yield.”
Quintilian – Roman Rhetorician
Or is this possibility the real case of Blissful Naivety?
[Tomorrows Blog: Who’s Health is it Anyway – A Journey Pharma Enlightenment?]
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