Raising the fee from its current rate of £262 to £365 will “cover the full costs of regulating pharmacy premises”, the regulator announced this morning (January 7).

“We are proposing this increase now because we need a robust and sustainable financial framework with fees that reflect the true cost of regulation,” the GPhC said.

Fees for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians will remain at their current levels of £257 and £121 respectively.

Pharmacy professionals can read the full consultation document and have until March 31 to respond.

This consultation marks the first phase of a “wider review of the GPhC’s longer-term fees strategy”, which will cover areas such as “longer fixed-term fees and flexible fee options (for those on parental leave, for example)”.

NPA “cannot support such a steep increase”

In a response to the proposed increase, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said it “cannot possibly support such a steep increase in fees for pharmacy regulation”.

The organisation questioned the GPhC “proposing to levy a big percentage increase at a time when community pharmacy finances are already under immense pressure”.

“The GPhC says it needs to cover its costs, however pharmacy contractors are bound to ask if the regulator is working as hard as pharmacies themselves to deliver efficiencies.

“We will now take soundings from NPA members and give our formal, detailed response to GPhC in March,” the NPA said.