Agreement levels on statements focussing on the reputation and trust associated with the TGA showed generally strong levels of agreement and low disagreement (Table 8). In particular, measures of trust and international regard were strong, with 85% of respondents highlighting agreement in relation to trusting the TGA to perform its role and just under three in four agreeing that the TGA is well regarded internationally. These measures showed very low disagreement, with around one in 20 respondents disagreeing on each of the two measures. The differences in agreement levels across these two measures was characterised by relatively high numbers of respondents who highlighted a Not applicable/Not sure response in relation to the internationally focussed question (9.1%).

Table 8: Community - roles

Around two in three respondents agreed that Australia gets the balance right between the risks and benefits associated with therapeutic goods and that the TGA manages risks appropriately. Despite the strong level of agreement here, around 15% of respondents Disagreed or Strongly disagreed on these statements.

Across the range of measures here, there was a tendency for lower levels of agreement to be observed amongst community member, retailer and (to a lesser extent) government-based respondents. This did not always translate into higher levels of disagreement, with only consumer stakeholders showing a tendency toward higher disagreement levels (Figures 7-10). Within the community member group, those who described themselves as consumer and consumer representatives appeared slightly more likely to provide positive ratings across these categories than those who identified as patients or carers.

There was strong agreement and generally low levels of disagreement across medical product industry, health professional and academic groupings. Media stakeholders also showed strong agreement, however the small number of respondents in this category make these figure unreliable.

There were few differences across groups within the medical products industry category, with similar perceptions of TGA existing amongst sponsors, manufacturers, consultants and industry representatives.

Figure 7: Gets the balance right by stakeholder group

Figure 7 in tabular format

Those in the medical products industry, health professionals, academics and government stakeholders were generally more likely than community members and retailers to highlight agreement on whether TGA gets the balance right between the risks and benefits of therapeutic goods. In particular, those identifying as community members, consumers or community representatives were more divided on this issue, with just under one in four disagreeing with the statement. A similar pattern was observed for the statement focussing on proportionate risk management, with the lowest level of agreement and highest level of disagreement observed amongst community members and the strongest levels of agreement amongst those in the medical products industry, health professionals and academics.

Figure 8: Manages risk by stakeholder group

Figure 8 in tabular format

Trust in the TGA was strong amongst all groupings in the survey, with more than seven in ten respondents across all of the major industry categories highlighting agreement that they trust the TGA to act ethically and with integrity. Agreement on this statement was particularly strong amongst those in the medical products industry, health professionals, academics and "Other" categories.

Figure 9: Trust in the TGA by stakeholder group

Figure 9 in tabular format

Figure 10: International reputation by stakeholder group

Figure 10 in tabular format