The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7384 p74
21 January 2006

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· Vitamin D and Cancer
· Animals in testing
· Out-of-hours services
· Medicines use reviews
· Prescribing
· NEL LPC
· Pharmacy workforce
· Overseas pharmacists
· Statutory Committee

Letters to the Editor

Overseas pharmacists

Discrimination against seniors
The last straw

Discrimination against seniors

From Dr J. K. Crellin, MRPharmS

The request for 2006 Royal Pharmaceutical Society retention fees brought the news that there is no concessionary fee for me as a retired pharmacist living abroad. I am being asked to pay the same (£106) as if I am employed. My initial response is to ask: “Why the discrimination against seniors, at least relative to being a retired pharmacist in Britain?”

John Crellin
Newfoundland, Canada

The last straw

As a 60-year-old, retired, overseas non-practising pharmacist, I was staggered by the increase in my 2006 Royal Pharmaceutical Society retention fee to £106. In 2004 I would have paid £22 and in 2005 I paid £46. What possible reason could there be for this rise?
Regrettably, this increase is the last straw and I will be forced to retire from the Register.

Malcolm Fowler
Victoria, Australia

PHILIP GREEN, deputy secretary and registrar, replies: At its meeting in August 2005, the Council considered the 2006 fee structure in the light of the financial strategy adopted in 2004. It proposed changes to the byelaws to be put forward for Privy Council approval for implementation in 2006.
In 2005, members resident overseas were either practising or non-practising. The Council wished to review this fee structure, and address perceived difficulties faced by overseas practising members who, while wishing to remain registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, were required to undertake continuing professional development and pay the practising fee, but were also required to be registered with and pay fees to their local regulator, and meet local CPD requirements.
The Council agreed to introduce a new single fee of £106 (significantly lower than the full practising fee of £267) to cover all pharmacists who live overseas but are not required to be registered with the Society. The fee covers the full costs of overseas membership. Pharmacists resident overseas who wish to retain the right to practise in Great Britain are required to pay the full practising fee and undertake CPD.

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