The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7505 p699
7 June 2008

Society summary

These reports are of debates at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s branch representatives’ meeting on 22 May 2008.
Further reports

Council asked to investigate likely future fees

The Society’s Council should give early consideration to the fees likely to be payable to the General Pharmaceutical Council and the new professional body, the branch representatives’ meeting decided, so that potential members of the new body would not be deterred by the cost of joining.

Proposing a motion to that effect, Stephen Garner (Nottingham) said that recent large fee increases have given many members serious doubts about the value of the Society to them personally. To most members, the sole contact is the occasional visit of the inspector, receipt of The Pharmaceutical Journal and maybe attending local branch meetings.

They may accept the value of continuing professional development but perceive it as something imposed on them. To be successful, the new professional body would need large numbers to join it voluntarily, and potential members should not be put off by the size of the fee.

Matthew Boyd (Nottingham), seconding, said that membership of a professional body would be vital for pharmacists’ voice, and the strength of that voice would depend on the number of people who take part in the professional body. Pharmacists needed to be strongly conscious of how much that would cost.

Anthony Cox (Birmingham), opposing the motion, said that the Society was not in a position to determine what future fees should be. It should be left to the Transitional Committee and the shadow council of the new body.