North Americans Are The Least Informed About GDPR In Pharma, Says GlobalData

North Americans were the least likely to say that they feel informed about the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) out of those surveyed in the global pharmaceuticals industry, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

The company’s latest report: ‘General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the Healthcare Industry Implications for Pharma – H1 2018’ states that only 54% of North Americans feel informed about the new EU regulation, compared to 84% of both Europeans and those in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, and 67% of those in other global regions.

Thomas Moore, Senior Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, says: “These results suggest that those in the US pharmaceuticals industry may be less prepared than in other regions, when it comes to adopting the new business practices needed to meet requirements set out by the GDPR. This observation could be due to GDPR having arguably less of a direct impact on companies operating in North America than those in other global regions, which are often more dependent on EU business operations.”

GlobalData’s report is based on a broader survey of participants from across industry sectors who were asked about changes to their business practice due to GDPR, as well as their sentiment towards the legislation. The report focuses on the answers provided by those in the pharmaceuticals industry, with the key objectives being to benchmark the factors which impact the healthcare sector, determine challenges with GDPR compliance, and track changes to corporate strategy.

Moore continues: "GDPR was a piece of legislation brought into effect by the EU on May 25, 2018, which aims to provide EU citizens with greater rights and control regarding the processing and distribution of their personal data. Due to the complexity of the regulations, it is essential that businesses stay highly informed should they wish to continue operating within EU member states. GlobalData’s report aims to provide insight on how companies in the healthcare industry have responded to GDPR globally.”

• Information based on GlobalData’s report: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the Healthcare Industry Implications for Pharma – H1 2018
• Comments provided by Thomas Moore, Senior Pharma Analyst at GlobalData
• The sample size for this analysis was 100 survey participants from the pharmaceuticals sector. This work is part of a larger survey conducted across all market sectors with a total sample size of 494 participants.

About GlobalData
4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, technology, energy, financial and professional services sectors.