The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7384 p87
21 January 2006

Society summary

Pharmacists embrace online payment of fees

Paying the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's retention fee by the online route has attracted many more pharmacists this year than last.

Commenting on the retention fee collection exercise, the Society’s head of registration, Andrew Gardner, said: “The online payment option has been well and truly embraced by pharmacists this year. Double the number that had used the online service at this point last year have already paid their fees online which is extremely encouraging and is obviously because it is so easy to do. Members get instant confirmation that their payment has been made and then their receipt arrives by e-mail within 24 hours.”

The online service allows most pharmacists (other than those who have signed a direct debit mandate for payment) to pay their fees by credit or debit card and to make their annual return at the same time. The service is open to practising members and to most non-practising members. It also allows members to make an online donation to the Society’s Benevolent Fund.

Online payment is made through a special payment page on the Society’s website. Members need have with them only their retention fee form number, registration number and payment card details.

Payment was due on 1 January. Pharmacists who do not meet the 20 January deadline for receipt of the fee will be issued with a statutory demand for payment and risk being erased from the register.

Premises retention fee Online payment is not available for the premises retention fee, which was also due on 1 January. The 2006 premises fee has been set by the Department of Health at £150, an increase of 9.5 per cent on the 2005 fee. The Department rejected a request from the Society for a 16.8 per cent increase to £160 after several community pharmacy bodies argued that the Society’s rationale for such an increase was insufficient.

Pharmacy technicians Over 99 per cent of pharmacy technicians who registered during the first year of the voluntary register have renewed and paid their retention fees on time. Half used the online payment service. Registered pharmacy technicians who did not make payment on time were due to be removed from the voluntary register on 20 January. They will have to pay a penalty fee as well as the retention fee if they subsequently apply for restoration. A list of those who have been erased will be published in The Pharmaceutical Journal next week.