The Royal Pharmaceutical Society expects shortly to begin seeking the views of its membership to help it in preparing proposals for legislation on the regulatory framework for the profession.
A review of the regulatory framework has been made possible by the Health Act 1999, which grants Government Ministers wide powers to make Orders amending not only existing legislation but also provisions in royal charters such as that of the Society. The Society has established a Health Act working party with a remit to work towards an ideal regulatory framework. The areas the working party is considering include ensuring professional competence, the Society's composition and functioning, and the overall regulatory framework.
The working party is preparing a series of papers identifying issues in different areas. Each "issue paper" will seek the views of the membership on specific questions and will offer an opportunity for expression of opinions on related matters. The first paper is expected to be approved for publication by the working party at a meeting on January 24.
The working party's chairman, Mr Bill Darling, said: "It is important that we involve members of the profession as actively as possible in the process of shaping the professional regulatory framework for the future." He added that the working party would use the views obtained, together with other material (for example, from Council committees), to prepare a formal consultation paper.