Responding today (May 16) to Lord Carter of Coles` recommendations concerning the future of regulation and leadership in
pharmacy, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain reinforced the need for members of the pharmacy profession to be able to determine the future of their professional body.
Hemant Patel, Society President, said:
"Lord Carter has acknowledged the complexity of establishing both a new regulator and an effective professional leadership body for pharmacy. Under his leadership, the working party has completed its task in a very short timeframe as set out by Government.
"From the outset the Society has maintained that the following are necessary to underpin the formation of the General Pharmaceutical Council and proposed body akin to a Royal College.
1. New arrangements ought to improve on current structures, leading to both improved public and patient safety and stronger professional leadership for pharmacists.
2. The transition to a General Pharmaceutical Council and the possible establishment of a body akin to a Royal College needs to be properly managed and resourced.
3. Structures for both regulation and professional leadership need long term financial sustainability.
4. Strong and transparent governance arrangements will be needed for both the regulation and professional leadership of the pharmacy profession.
5. The pharmacy profession and other stakeholders ought to be fully considered and consulted during the process of change.
"We wait with interest for Lord Hunt`s response to Lord Carter`s recommendations. It is important that the changes are supported by members of the profession, whether specialists or generalists, and the constructive stakeholder discussions that have already begun must continue."
http://www.rpsgb.org.uk
