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19 August 2010
The National Pharmacy Boards have slammed the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) for failing to properly justify its proposed fee structure. Responding to an official consultation on the fees, they said the current plans were not transparent enough and did not seem to be giving registrants a particularly fair deal. Chair of the English Pharmacy Board Lindsey Gilpin said, “The GPhC should set a fee structure that is proportionate and fair to registrants in order to deliver the necessary regulatory outcomes. “The lack of background information provided by the GPhC makes it extremely hard to justify their proposed increase to the regulatory fees. The Boards are unconvinced that the fees suggested accurately reflect the true cost of regulation.” Chair of the Scottish Pharmacy Board Sandra Melville said, “The RPSGB has determined that even with allowing for a new organisation to emerge, a substantial increase in current costs is being assumed by the GPhC without justification and any change in the current regulatory functions. “The vast majority of regulatory bodies appear to satisfy their obligation to public protection whilst charging their registrants significantly lower fees. This discrepancy should be clearly explained.” Chair of the Welsh Pharmacy Board Nuala Brennan added, “The running costs of the GPhC should be transparent and show that any additional costs will bring effective pharmacy regulation for patient and public benefit. “The arrangement for attendance fees for GPhC activities and committees represents a 27% increase from current Society rates. The affordability of this governance structure needs to be justified to registrants who pay the fees. In the context of the current economic climate, it seems contradictory that the regulator is looking to substantially increase its fees for registrants.”