Fees Announced By Society's Council, UK

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 30 Jul 2009 - 15:00 PDT

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The Council of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain has announced a fee increase of 2.2% for 2010, following the outcome of the 2010 fees consultation and a review of the Society's financial position.

It is the second year in a row that fees have not been raised significantly. Last year's fees only rose by the annual inflationary rise and were between 3.9% - 4.5%.

This year's fees were kept to a minimum and were set within the Retail Price Index (RPI) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures of inflation. Council agreed to consult on a proposal to set fees at 2.2% in April 2008. The consultation ran 24 April to 17 July 2009 and only 59 responses were received, including seven from organisations.

The Society's Treasurer, John Gentle, said; "I understand that Members may be disappointed that fees have increased this year but we have tried to reflect the current economic climate in the fee setting process. It's difficult to call for any increase but 2.46 pence a day extra for a full time working pharmacist will help us to ensure, as far as we can, a stable financial platform to launch the new professional body. "

"We are going through a time of significant organisational change and the fees revenue will help to ensure financial stability when the Society separates in 2010. " In response to earlier feedback from members, a discounted fee for pharmacists on a lower income will again be included. This fee was bought in last year to help lessen the financial impact on pharmacists who work part-time. The Council has also implemented staged payments as a result of the 2008 fee consultation results. Practising pharmacists and pharmacy technicians will continue to have the option to pay their retention fee in four quarterly instalments by direct debit.

The findings of the fees consultation and the Council's response will be available on the Society's website and in The Pharmaceutical Journal in August 2009.

The majority of respondents to the fees consultation (76%) disagreed that a fee increase should be implemented and 19% agreed to the fees proposal.

Source
Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

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