The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7469 p279
15 September 2007

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Separating professional regulation and representation General Pharmaceutical Council and a royal college-type body for the Society

Government to provide £3m for establishing GPhC

Funding of £3m is to be provided by the Government to support the establishment of the General Pharmaceutical Council, Ben Bradshaw, Minister of State for Health Services, revealed at the British Pharmaceutical Conference.

He said that, as the minister overseeing the programme of change to professional regulation, he is already aware of the concerns that pharmacists have about the establishment of the GPhC.

He added: “While it might not address all those concerns, I am pleased to be able to tell you that the Government will be contributing £3m from 2008 to 2010 to help support the transition to a new regulator, costs which otherwise may have fallen on the profession.”

Speaking later, Keith Ridge, chief pharmaceutical officer for England, explained that the Professional Regulation and Leadership Oversight Group (PRLOG) will be responsible for apportioning the funding, which will be split into two equal sums paid in 2008–09 and 2009–10. He said he sees the contribution as a step in the right direction.

Responding to the announcement of the funding, Andrew Gush, Treasurer of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, stressed that the Society has made strong representations to Government about the costs relating to the establishment of both the regulatory and future professional bodies.

“While we welcome the £3m in funding announced today by the minister towards the transition to the General Pharmaceutical Council, we see this as a first step and will continue engaging with the Department of Health on funding to support the establishment of a professional body for pharmacy,” he said.