The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) registration renewal fees for pharmacists will remain the same for the 2017/18 financial year.

Fees will also stay at current levels for pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises.

Registration renewal fees will continue to be:

  • £250 for pharmacists
  • £118 for pharmacy technicians
  • £241 for registered pharmacies

The decision was made at a GPhC meeting last month when the regulator approved the organisation’s budget for 2017/18.

Budget

The council proposed a budget for a deficit of £0.9m this financial year, to be funded out of existing reserves.

The plan was proposed on the understanding that:

  • 'As previously agreed, a deficit is acceptable transitionally, provided that a plan for returning to break-even/surplus is put in place'
  • The existing level of reserves is 'above that needed on an ongoing basis' and can accommodate the deficit budgeted without impacting on the GPhC's 'longer term financial stability'

It was agreed that the registration fees for members would not increase, but the budgeted income assumes a that more pharmacy professionals will join the register.

The budget provides for an increase in staff costs to cover pay increases and increases in pension costs. However, there is no increase in establishment headcount, despite an increase in workload.