The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has committed to freezing registrants' fees for the coming year and to continue ensuring value for money.

The regulator agreed on proposals to maintain fees at current levels at its council meeting on Thursday (February 6), despite an estimated £4 million increase in costs this year.

GPhC chief executive Duncan Rudkin told C+D he was "very glad" to be able to freeze fees for the second year running in an exclusive interview on Friday (February 7), although he stressed that the regulator had "a lot" of work to do.

GPhC chief executive Duncan Rudkin said he was "very glad" to be able to freeze fees for the second year running, but stressed that the regulator had "a lot" of work to do	More on the GPhC Regulator's new guidelines for pre-reg tutors split profession GPhC targets Canary Wharf for new HQ GPhC calls for higher standards for specials preparation
	It was too early to say whether fees would remain the same for 2015-16, Mr Rudkin said, but the GPhC would work hard to ensure "value for money". "We will have a review to make sure we challenge ourselves to root out any unnecessary costs," he pledged.

The decision means costs of restoration to the register will remain at £240 for pharmacists, £108 for technicians and £221 for registered pharmacies.

Meanwhile, costs of regulation are estimated to rise by a fifth to exceed £24m. "We're at a time where we've got a lot to do," Mr Rudkin told C+D – naming revalidation, new premises inspections and investment in IT as extra costs. "All these things require us to invest and grow to a certain extent."