The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7227 p825
7 December 2002

Society summary

New scale of fees approved for 2003

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has gained approval for the proposed increases in its members' and premises fees from 1 January 2003 (PJ, 17 August, p230).

The Privy Council has approved the proposed Byelaw amendments increasing the membership fees by about 5 per cent. The retention fee for those in full-time employment will rise by 4.8 per cent from £186 to £195 and the part-time fee will increase from £105 to £110. The reduced fee for those aged 60 and over who are not employed in any occupation will rise from £20 to £21.

The fee for new registrants, which was slashed from £185 to £77 earlier this year, will rise by 5.2 per cent to £81. The registration examination fee, which rose at the same time as the the new registrants' fee was reduced, will remain at £125 next year. The late entry and resit fees will stick at £250.

The Society has also learnt that the Secretary of State for Health has approved the proposed 4.1 per cent increases to the pharmacy premises retention fee, which will rise from £97 to £101. Other fees relating to premises will rise by about the same percentage.

The Society says that the new fee structure is based upon a rigorous budgeting process to ensure that costs are retained at a level that enables necessary work to be carried out while obtaining the best value. The work programme for 2003 includes progressing the Society's modernisation programme, working to comply with new legislation, implementing the programme for continuing professional development that began this year, improving management of the membership database and continuing the renovation of the headquarters building.

The budget also aims to produce a moderate operating surplus to help restore the Society's reserves to a prudent level.

Article, p826

News Feature, p804