The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7228 p846
14 December 2002

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Letters to the Editor

The Profession

Small price to show CPD commitment

From Mr I. G. Simpson, FRPharmS

In her article, "Do pharmacists pay more to practise than other health care professionals?" (PJ, 7 December, p804), Debbie Andalo has been disingenuous in comparing the role of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society with that of the medical royal colleges.

The Council of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society set up the College of Pharmacy Practice in 1980 in order to "promote and maintain a high standard of pharmacy practice and in particular, to promote and advance education and training of pharmacists in all branches of pharmacy practice, to establish standards for vocational training in pharmacy practice, to advance knowledge of the application of pharmacy in total health care, and to conduct, promote and facilitate research into pharmacy practice". This role is parallel to that carried out by the medical royal colleges, and is still the function of the College of Pharmacy Practice today. Admittedly, we are not yet a royal college, but we are one step nearer it this month with the granting of Arms by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, which gives recognition of our work over the past 20 years.

With regard to fees, college governors have agreed that associates will pay £50 and members and fellows will pay £82 for 2003. There will be an additional fee of £10 to be an associate of one of our specialist faculties, and an extra fee of £5 for those who do not pay by direct debit by 31 January. There is no increase in the fees for members, fellows and faculty membership and only a £4 increase for associates. Although these fees account for additional expenditure for practising pharmacists who are college members, they compare favourably with those charged by other organisations, and are a small price to pay by pharmacists who wish to demonstrate their commitment to continuing professional development and high standards of practice.

Ian Simpson
Chief Executive
College of Pharmacy Practice

Why Institution of Chemical Engineers has got it right

From Mr S. S. Gill, MRPharmS

I would not have credited some of the comments I have read over the course of the "debate" as to the level of representation pharmacists receive within industry.

I have recently been employed as a biochemical engineer in the pharmaceutical biologics sector and it is true to say, regrettably after several years in the hospital sector, that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society is an irrelevance to me now. As an affiliate member of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), for a nominal annual fee, I have access to extensive continuing professional development and employment resources that will assist in attaining full member status as an internationally recognised Chartered Biochemical Engineer. The IChemE also makes a similar commitment to chemical engineers working in water, oil, chemical, pharmaceutical, food and drink and energy process sectors and to academic members. On comparison this makes a mockery of the Society's level of representation, even if it does have the impossibly enormous task (sic) of stewarding the QP register.

The issues surrounding the introduction of mandatory CPD should concern every registered pharmacist. In its current form CPD only seems to capture those working as a practitioner. As such it even omits the requirements of pharmacists in the hospital and commercial sectors who have more operational roles. CPD must mean something and should be measurable in both its results and relevance. Poor representation of all members' requirements devalues the whole CPD process and as such relegates it to nothing more than a tedious exercise in regulatory compliance for which minimum standards can be attained. I urge all Council members to visit www.IChemE.org and see for themselves what a really purposeful organisation can offer its membership and heaven forbid, maybe even emulate it.

Simeon Gill
London W4

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