The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7215 p358-361
14 September 2002

This page
Reprint
Photocopy

PDF* 65K

  LPS
  Concordance
  Patient packs
  Phytotherapeutics
  Diabetes
  ETP
  Modernisation
  The Profession
  The Journal
  The Society

Letters to the Editor

Modernisation

Vast loss of income for the Society

From Dr A. J. Smith, FRPharmS

There have been numerous articles, reports and letters regarding the modernisation of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and its Council and many points of interest have been raised.

It occurs to me that other learned societies and associations such as the Law Society and the British Medical Association have a voluntary membership, whereas the membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society is compulsory. If the professional aspects of the Society's work and regulatory function were separated, then, presumably, the Society would fall in line with the other professional bodies mentioned above and membership would be voluntary. In view of the apparent lack of interest and support for the Society, as evidenced by the low percentage of members voting for Council elections and responding to surveys, the number of voluntary members would be a mere fraction of current the compulsory membership.

Is this aspect a major influencing factor in the Council's seemingly myopic viewpoint that the professional and regulatory aspects should remain conjoined? Any alternative would appear to result in a vast loss of income for the Society.

Alan Smith
Waterperry, Oxfordshire

Send your letter to The Editor

Previous Topic (ETP)
Next Topic (The Profession)