GPhC announces freeze on fees
The regulator says it will reduce its operating costs so it can keep fees for pharmacists and technicians at the current level
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has committed to freezing registrants’ fees for the coming year.
Fees for 2016-17 will remain at £250 for pharmacists, £118 for technicians and £241 for premises, the regulator announced yesterday (February 4).
Last year, the GPhC defended its decision to raise its fees for pharmacists and technicians by £10, despite 60% of respondents to a GPhC consultation "disagreeing or strongly disagreeing" with the increase.
GPhC chief executive Duncan Rudkin said yesterday that the regulator plans to reduce its operating costs in order to keep fees at the current level, despite a “continuing growth” in the number of fitness-to-practise cases it deals with.
The GPhC is currently conducting an efficiency and effectiveness review, which will identify areas to save money, it said in its budget and fee proposals, also published yesterday.
The regulator will reassess its fees at the start of next year. Any proposed changes will be subject to consultation, it stressed.
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