The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has confirmed it is pushing further ahead with revalidation, pledging to develop a full model by 2015, after the government gave the go-ahead for doctors to begin revalidation in December.

The GPhC told C+D it would announce the timescale and arrangements for introducing regular fitness-to-practise checks over the next three years, after the Department of Health announced yesterday that the majority of doctors are expected to be revalidated by April 2016.

The GPhC plans to announce the timescale for introducing regular fitness-to-practise checks over the next three years	More on fitness to practise GPhC wants proof of ability upon rejoining register GPhC warns medical tests could delay fitness-       to-practise cases Update your knowledge with C+D Training
	"We have included specific objectives about revalidation in our current corporate plan to agree and develop a model of revalidation to further enhance the assurance of continuing fitness to practise," the GPhC said.

"Implementation plans for this model will be finalised in 2015 and will include the timing and arrangements for the introduction of revalidation itself."

Yesterday health secretary Jeremy Hunt said revalidation checks every five years could help "save even more" lives. But the fresh vigour to implement checks on pharmacists received a cautious response from pharmacy.

"It has to be a workable system that does not add to the burden," tweeted Royal Pharmaceutical Society chief executive Helen Gordon.

But Joseph Bush, lecturer in pharmacy practice at Aston Pharmacy School, replied that the CPD system was "not fit-for-purpose".

The GPhC consulted on its revalidation plans in March and held a stakeholder event this summer to discuss the proposals. Delegates at the event called for an "open and transparent" revalidation system created in collaboration with the profession and urged the regulator to provide "effective services and support".