The PDA’s membership numbers have increased for the 23rd year running, the trade union has said.
It announced yesterday that as of March 31, its total membership stands at 40,588, up from 40,001 the year before.
The figures were first presented at the PDA Union’s annual general meeting last week.
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The union, which represents employed and locum pharmacists, had 9,051 members after its launch in 2003 - rising to 19,744 by its 10th anniversary, and to 36,806 by its 20th.
PDA Union general secretary Mark Pitt said the body “was created by, and for, pharmacists and we are committed to remaining exclusively for that profession and acting in their interests”.
Pitt added that the PDA’s “exclusive focus on pharmacists” helps drive its growth and gives it “significant influence”.
And he said that while more members are retiring as the union approaches its 25th anniversary, new joiners “outnumber those retiring and therefore our net membership continues to increase”.
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“The more members we have, the greater our influence on behalf of our entire membership, and we invite each employed and locum pharmacist to join us.”
It comes after a PDA report warned that community pharmacy’s growing workload is “not sustainable” and workforce capacity must be increased to support it.
And it follows the PDA appointing senior pharmacist Mark DasGupta as its new director of professional development.