TGA stakeholder survey 2016
Confidence in the TGA
Confidence in the TGA was measured across a range of focus areas. The strongest outcomes here were observed in relation to Trustworthiness and Providing safeguards for the health of Australians, where three in four respondents indicated either high or full confidence in the TGA and minimal numbers (around one in 20) indicated low or no confidence (table 9).
Measures of Technical competence, Fairness, Risk management and Scientifically valid decisions all showed similar levels of confidence, with six in ten or more participants indicating high or full confidence across these measures and 12% or fewer respondents indicating low confidence. Generally, around six times more participants highlighted confidence in the TGA compared to those who felt little confidence.
The measure focussing on well thought out decision making showed lower levels of confidence, with just over half of the sample highlighting high levels of confidence in the TGA here, and 15% showing low or no confidence.
Table 9: Confidence in the TGA
| Statements | Nett Low confidence | Not at all confident | Low confidence | Neither high nor low confidence | High confidence | Full confidence | Nett High confidence | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical competence | 12% | 2% | 10% | 28% | 51.5% | 9% | 61% | 2666 |
| Well thought out decisions | 15% | 3% | 12% | 33% | 46% | 6% | 52% | 2662 |
| Providing safeguards for the health of Australians | 6% | 2% | 4% | 19% | 59% | 15% | 75% | 2661 |
| Fairness | 12% | 3% | 9% | 28% | 50% | 10.1% | 60% | 2666 |
| Trustworthiness | 5% | 1% | 4% | 19% | 60% | 16% | 76% | 2661 |
| Risk management | 9% | 1% | 8% | 27% | 54% | 10% | 64% | 2663 |
| Scientifically valid decisions | 11% | 3% | 9% | 27% | 51% | 10% | 61% | 2660 |
As highlighted in the charts below (Figures 11-17), there was a consistent pattern across the range of measures of confidence across the major stakeholder groupings. Generally, health professionals and those in the medical products industry tended to show high levels of confidence in comparison to community members, retailers and government stakeholders.
Patterns in the community stakeholder groupings consistently highlight a tendency for higher levels of confidence amongst those in the consumer health representatives or consumers themselves, whilst those who described themselves as patients or carers tended to have a slightly lower level of confidence.
Amongst those in the medical products industry category, levels of confidence were similar. The exception to this was in relation to regulatory affairs consultants, who were slightly more likely to take a more positive view with higher levels of confidence.
Figure 11: Thought out decisions - Confidence by Stakeholder category
Figure 12: Technical competence - Confidence by Stakeholder category
Figure 13: Safeguards for the health of Australians - Confidence by Stakeholder category
Figure 14: Fairness - Confidence by Stakeholder category
Figure 15: Trustworthiness - Confidence by Stakeholder category
Figure 16: Risk management - Confidence by Stakeholder category
Figure 17: Scientifically valid - Confidence by Stakeholder category
