Society disappointed by DoH restriction of premises fee increase
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society expressed its disappointment following
the decision announced by the Department of Health last week to raise
premises retention fees by 3.8 per cent, rather than the 56 per cent
increase proposed by the Society.
This will result in an increased financial
burden on Society members, who will be expected to meet the cost, it
says.
The Society’s Treasurer Andrew Gush said: “We are disappointed
that once again the Minister has ignored our arguments and restricted
the increase in the premises fees. Unfortunately, the burden of regulation
is likely to fall on individual pharmacists and in particular those who
have to pay their own fees.”
The full cost of recovering premises retention fees for 2008 is £243
per pharmacy but, following the DoH decision, the Society will only be
recovering £162 per pharmacy, leaving a shortfall of £81,
which will have to be met through membership fees. This equates to a
burden of approximately £22 per member, the Society explains.
The Society has provided detailed analysis of figures relating to premises
fees, to the DoH and has made several representations in order to secure
the full costs of recovering the retention fee.
“We have been campaigning firmly in order to reduce the financial
burden placed on the membership so this news is naturally frustrating.
We will
be writing to the DoH to demonstrate our feelings and will continue lobbying
for more favourable decisions in the future,” Mr Gush said. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal