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	The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 270 No 7238 p304 1 March 2003	This page Reprint Photocopy
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Letters to the Editor

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The Society

The President is mistaken

From Mr D. Simpson, FRPharmS

You report the President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society as saying that the ultimate decision, in respect of the modernisation of the Society, is that of the Council (PJ, February 15, p244). I am afraid that the President is mistaken. The members in a special general meeting are the decision makers if modernisation involves a change in the Charter relating to the ability of the Council to discharge its Charter obligations, including the representational role. Where modernisation is concerned with regulatory matters, then Government is the final arbiter, subject to the will of Parliament, because change would require affirmation by both Houses.

I note, incidentally, that there is no indication in The Journal's report that the Council took any steps to comply with the Charter when voting that the reformed Council should have 29 members, comprising 17 pharmacists, two technicians and 10 lay members.

Such a change means a change in the Charter, which specifies the number of elected members of the Council. Council votes to change the Charter require "a majority of not less than three fourths of the members of the Council present and voting (being an absolute majority of all the members of the Council)". All we are told is that the motion was carried. No voting figures are given, nor is any description of the size of the majority.

Council votes to change the Charter are, of course, a precursor for a special general meeting of members, which I assume will be called should the Council vote have complied with the requirements set out above.

Douglas Simpson
Beckenham, Kent

ANN LEWIS, Secretary and Registrar, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, replies:

The Council is the ultimate arbiter on the proposals that it will submit to the Government for the reform of the Society. The final decision on the Council's structure will effectively be for the Government and proposals should therefore be acceptable to Ministers.

The composition of the Council could be determined either by legislation or, as now, be governed jointly by legislation and the Charter. The Council has not yet considered the most effective and appropriate means of enabling the Society to implement its programme of reform.

It is essential to recognise that change is going to happen and that resisting reforms that are in the public interest would not preserve the status quo for the profession. It would only be likely to lead to more provisions being included in legislation and to pharmacy's reputation being damaged in the eyes of the public, Parliament, the Government and the other health professions.

The Society is working to ensure that reform will produce the best outcome both for pharmacy and for the public it serves.

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