The RPSGB decided last week to increase the annual retention fee for pharmacists to £395 for 2008, from the £283 they had to pay this year.
The decision follows a consultation which took place over the summer and was the first of its kind undertaken by the RPSGP.
The society said the increased fees effective from January 2008 will help meet the costs of new regulatory procedures and a deficit in its pension scheme.
The good news for pharmacists is that the rise was not as high as expected. Indeed, the RPSGB had initially planned to increase professional fees by 50 per cent to £425 a year.
Commenting on the decision, society treasurer, Andrew Gush, said: “We recognise the impact of the fee change on members and have responded to the feedback by lessening the impact on those groups who may have found the increase most difficult. The fee increase is a necessary measure to ensure that the society can continue its work on behalf of the pharmacy profession and to invest in education, communications and practise support.”
Meanwhile, the registration fee for new pharmacists will increase from £137 to £191 instead of the £206 announced in July.
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