Privy Council approves Society’s new structure for retention
fees
The Privy Council has approved the proposed
amendment to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Byelaws to implement changes to the Society’s fee structure and level of fees for 2005 (PJ, 14 August, p241).
The approval implements the decision of the Council, at its August meeting,
that the retention fee structure should move to a format of “practising” and “non-practising” fees
in order to make the register more transparent, to simplify administration
and to support the introduction of mandatory continuing professional
development.
The approval does not cover premises fees, which must be authorised by
the Secretary of State for the Department of Health rather than the Privy
Council.
Commenting on the Privy Council approval, the Society’s President,
Nicholas Wood, said: “This format was overwhelmingly supported
by a large number of members who, as part of our consultation on CPD,
recognised the need for the Society to have ‘practising’ and ‘non-practising’ sections
of the register.”
Mr Wood added: “The Council also recognised that there was a need
to look to the retention fee to provide a secure income base that would
underpin all the Society’s core professional and regulatory activities.
The Council is united behind a Charter with a strong emphasis on a professional
and membership support role for the Society. We agreed that it was important
for all these areas of activity to enjoy a stable funding base so that
programmes could be planned and implemented as a core part of the Society’s
work.
“I am confident that members are prepared to accept that our Society
must be financially secure. We have a duty to keep faith with those generations
of pharmacists whose custodianship of the Society’s resources has
created the strong, effective organisation that it is today. We are working
to ensure that the annual retention fee process is as simple and efficient
as possible for the convenience of our members.”
Fees can be paid online using major credit and debit cards. If members
have a direct debit set up, the practising fee will be debited from their
account on or shortly after 4 January 2005. Payment can also be made
by cheque (sterling cheques drawn on a sterling account) using the retention
fee form and the pre-paid envelope provided. Members will be sent a receipt
within 28 days of making payment. For further information please contact
020 7572 2322 or e-mail registration@rpsgb.org
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