Pharmacists will now have to pay to become members of the Independent Pharmacy Federation (IPF) as the organisation relaunches this weekend.

The IPF will officially launch its membership prices at the Pharmacy Show in Birmingham on October 9 and 10.

Contractors will be able to join as full-time members for £10 a month, while pre-reg students will be able to join free of charge for one year to receive IPF e-mails and newsletters.

The funds would enable the IPF to cover its expenses and fully represent independent pharmacy, said IPF director Kalpesh Patel.

"The IPF will be the voice of the independent sector," he told C+D. "What we want to do is create a forum where independents are comfortable feeding through their opinions to us. We will take those opinions on board and if there's a consensus, we will be lobbying PSNC and the government."

Pharmacists outside the independent sector will also have the opportunity to join as associate members for £20 a year.

Associate membership will be open to "all pharmacists who wish to support the IPF and its objectives", and will enable them to participate in discussion forums and network with full members.

Independents had expressed "a lot of support" for the changes, Mr Patel added.

"In essence we want to develop the organisation and be at the cutting edge of the profession," he stressed.

The IPF's 1,200 members will need to officially subscribe to the IPF this month and pay the fees to continue their membership.

The IPF will be recruiting both full and associate members at the Pharmacy Show.

IPF chairman Fin McCaul will be pitching the organisation's proposals for contract change at the show's C+D Keynote Conference. Sign up for your free place and follow the debate using #cdconf11.