The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7478 p549
17 November 2007

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Retention fee 2008

Reduction in the retention fee increase fails to quell dissent

Disquiet over increases in pharmacists' retention fees for 2008 continues, in spite of the announcement of a £30 reduction in the proposed rise for practising pharmacists (PJ, 10 November 2007, p517).

Colette McCreedy, director of practice at the National Pharmacy Association, said that the association still has concerns about the size of the increase at a time when pharmacy regulation and representation, and therefore the Royal Pharmaceutical Society itself, is entering a period of significant change.

“A substantial increase in fees now could create a precedent for the future, even though the details of how, exactly, the new regulator and the professional body will operate have not been decided,” she said.

Rob Darracott, Company Chemists’ Association chief executive, said that the Society still had to explain how the money raised by the fee increases would be spent. Until members have more details about the planned expenditure, they would not know whether the increase offers value for money.