The current chief executive and registrar of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is to leave the organisation, it has been announced.
Duncan Rudkin will end his 15-year tenure on 31 December 2025.
In announcing his departure, Mr Rudkin said it had been ‘a great privilege’ to lead the staff of the GPhC since its formation in 2010, but felt it was the right time to step down with ‘a strong new strategic plan in place’.
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He added: 'I am proud of the work the team have done to uphold standards of care and quality in pharmacy services, and to put patient safety at the heart of everything we do.'
The announcement of Mr Rudkin’s departure follows recent controversy over the GPhC pushing forward with a 6% increase in its annual registration, despite strong opposition from the profession.
In addition, it was announced earlier this month that the organisation is set to cut the number of full disqualification hearings it holds against pharmacy owners.
The council of the GPhC said it will be initiating a search for a replacement and is ‘committed to ensuring a smooth transition’.
Gisela Abbam, GPhC chair, commented: ‘Over his tenure, Duncan has made a significant contribution to pharmacy regulation, with patient safety as his focus.
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‘On behalf of the council and staff of the GPhC, I would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to him for his invaluable contribution to pharmacy regulation.’
Ms Abbam added that the transition to Mr Duncan's replacement would be ‘a pivotal moment for the GPhC’ as it looks to implement its ‘ambitious’ five-year strategy.
The GPhC launched its new strategy during a parliamentary event attended by The Pharmacist in June.
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The regulator’s five-year strategic plan focuses on ‘empowering’ pharmacists to provide trusted, safe and effective care.
Last December, it emerged that GPhC had failed to meet the healthcare super-regulator's standards relating to timeliness of fitness to practise investigations for the sixth year in a row.
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