BRM to debate Register and fees
A third of the 18 motions submitted for debate at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s 2005 branch representatives’ meeting reflect concerns about the impact of the restructured the Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists and the retention fees associated with it.
Three motions relate to pharmacists who have retired from practice. One
calls for an extra membership category for retired pharmacists, with
an appropriate retention fee levied. Another asks the Society to allow
retired pharmacists who have been on the Register for 50 years to remain
members for life without further charge. The third asks the Society to
consider allowing fellows of the Society who choose to retire from the
Register to retain their designated fellowship.
Three further motions relate specifically to the retention fee. One simply
calls on the Council to review its policy on registration fees, “particularly
for those who are practising part time”. Another wants the Society
to try to avoid increasing retention fees or at least to keep increases
below the level of general price inflation. A third asks for a facility
for paying the fee in instalments and a reduced fee for those who practise
only occasionally.
Five motions are concerned with the Society’s local organisation.
One wants the branches to be able to recognise veteran members in a dignified
manner in keeping with the Society’s honour and status. One wants
the Society to increase funding to allow the branches to run full programmes
of meetings without commercial sponsorship and another wants an increase
in funding to allow registered pharmacy technicians to participate in
branch activities. Another wants branches to be able to reward their
secretaries with a fee greater than the maximum honorarium currently
allowed. Finally, one calls on the Society to review the structure, role,
operation and functions of the regional committees.
Three motions on education and training include one calling for a review
of the MPharm degree, one requesting an effort to increase the number
of preregistration training placements and one seeking a review of the
registration examinations and a change of focus for the preregistration
training.
Other motions are concerned with the system of exemption from prescription
charges, code marking for tablets and capsules, support material for
health education campaigns, and a signing-in procedure for locum pharmacists.
The 18 motions come from 13 branches and the British Pharmaceutical Students
Association. The motions in 2004 (12) and 2003 (11) came from eight branches
and the BPSA.
This year’s BRM takes place at the Society’s London headquarters
on Wednesday 25 May at 9.30am. The 18 motions will be debated in the
morning session and all motions carried by the meeting will be referred
to the Council for its consideration.
The afternoon session will begin with a facilitated session on the future
of the BRM, followed by a discussion on the Society’s devolution
review and update on its progress.
The BRM motions are published in this issue of The Journal (p496). Each
motion is followed by explanatory text from the branch or branches concerned
and background information agreed by the Council at the April Council
meeting.
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