In a consultation that launched in March, the GPhC sought views on how it sets its fees for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, including whether to introduce differential fees for certain groups – such as those on parental leave and part-time workers – and whether to charge fees for all courses the GPhC accredits and reaccredits.

After analysing the consultation responses, the GPhC has now approved the changes to its fees policy, it tweeted following its council meeting today (September 9).

These changes include retaining a flat-fee structure for all registered pharmacy professionals, and introducing a multi-year fees cycle, rather than yearly cycles, according to the council papers.

As part of the consultation, the GPhC suggested it could review pharmacist and pharmacy technician fees every three years.

While this approach could mean the fees remain the same each year, in an unforeseen “emergency situation”, the GPhC “may need to make exceptional fee changes within the three-year cycle” and adjust the fees accordingly following a consultation, it said.

“We expect to take forward the next stages of the fee strategy in 2022,” the GPhC said in the council papers.

“We are also due to begin a review of how we carry out accreditation. The findings from this consultation, particularly our proposal for charging for the accreditation and reaccreditation of all training courses, at cost, will inform this review,” the GPhC said.