First RPS fee rise in six years
Pharmacist membership will rise by £6 to £198 next year, while pre-registration students will pay an extra £2
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) will raise its membership fees in 2016 for the first time in six years.
The RPS assembly agreed the £6 rise to £198 for standard membership to ensure the society “continues to deliver a first-rate service to members”, it said yesterday (August 20).
Fees for pre-registration students will rise by £2 to £72, the RPS said, in its first fee rise since relinquishing its regulatory role. Fees paid by direct debit are discounted, and will increase by a smaller amount.
The majority of members will experience a fee increase of between 2.7 and 3.1%, the RPS said.
The fees will apply to pharmacists joining the RPS from January 1. Fees for existing members will not change until their next renewal date – “on or around March 1 for the majority of members”, it said.
The society thought “long and hard” about the increase, which it believes “accurately reflect the current value of RPS membership”, said president Ash Soni. “I hope pharmacists will recognise this and continue to support their professional body through continued membership,” he added.
The RPS would not comment on how much it revenue it estimates the fees rise will generate.
RPS member Cathy Cooke told C+D she thinks the new membership fee is “still very good value” considering the “resources, support and range of engagement promoting the profession” the society provides.
In June, the RPS insisted its finances were "strong", despite reporting losses of more than £1 million in 2014. The society had budgeted for a loss of £1.2m in 2015 and had retained 93 per cent of its members, it said at the time.
The same month, the RPS moved into its new £6m headquarters near Tower Hill, London. The move is expected to save the society £500,000 a year in running costs, it said.
Members can comment on the new fees by emailing [email protected] before October 21.
2016 fees
|
|
Standard fee |
Annual direct debit |
|
Fellow, member, pharmaceutical scientist, associate |
£198 (up £6) |
£187 (up £5) |
|
Pre-registration associate |
£72 (up £2) |
£68 (up £1) |
Discounted fees
|
Member:
|
£99 (up £3) £148 (up £4) |
£93 (up £2) £140 (up £3) |
|
Fellow, member, pharmaceutical scientist, associate:
|
£72 (up £2) |
£68 (up £1) |
|
Overseas member |
£104 (up £4) |
£98 (up £3) |
|
Student:
|
£0 £50 (no change) |
£0 £48 (no change) |
|
Honorary fellow, honorary member |
£0 |
£0 |
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