AGM to debate involvement of pharmacy technicians in the Society
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society's annual general meeting on 16 May is to be asked to debate a motion opposing any move to allow pharmacy technicians to become full members of either the Society or any future pharmacy organisation “akin to a royal college”.
The motion — the only one received — has been submitted by
Mark Walker, of Oxford, who has already made
clear his views on the issue at a briefing meeting held by the Society (PJ, 17 March, p297) and in
a letter to The Journal (PJ, 7 April, p396) that has attracted subsequent
comment from other letter writers.
Mr Walker’s motion is as follows: “This annual general meeting
directs Council and the Society to discontinue any consideration, discussion
or action that may lead to pharmacy technicians becoming full members
of the Society or of the proposed royal college.” (Despite the
wording of the motion, the AGM has no power to issue directions. However,
any motion carried at an AGM is given serious consideration by the Council.)
A revised
AGM Official Notice, incorporating Mr Walker’s motion,
appears on p535. Also on that page is a panel incorporating the Council’s
proposed rules of procedure for debate at AGMs. The meeting will be asked
to adopt these rules before considering the motion. The rules of procedure
have been expanded
since last year (PJ, 13 May 2006, p575) by
the addition of rules on proposed amendments to a motion and on proposals
that a motion should be put to an immediate vote.
It has also been announced that before the AGM, which begins at 7.30pm,
there will be a presentation at 6.45pm on the Government’s White
Paper, “Trust, assurance and safety: the regulation of health professionals
in the 21st century”, followed by an opportunity to ask questions.
Tea and sandwiches will be available from 5.30pm and at 6pm there will
be the presentation of fellowship certificates for 2006 followed by the
presentation of the Charter gold and silver medals for 2007.
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal