Pharmacists' registration fees must not be raised to pay for proposed changes to healthcare regulation, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has warned.

The RPS made the comments in its response to a consultation by the Law Commission on plans to produce a single legal framework to cover the regulation of all health professionals in the UK.

The proposed changes include simplifying existing legislation and giving regulatory bodies consistent powers, but also giving them the flexibility to adapt to changes in healthcare.

The RPS is concerned the GPhC will struggle to make the cost efficiencies as the 18-month-old regulator is still "finding its feet"

More pharmacy practice stories GPhC to slash fees RPS membership fee income falls £600,000, C+D       estimates Xrayser: Negotiators must stick up for the little guy

The RPS said it was "very concerned" that the "financial burden of change" could be shouldered by individual pharmacy registrants and it called for assurances from the government that pharmacists would not be "financially penalised" by having to pay for the reforms. An impact assessment of the reforms produced by the Law Commission estimated that the changes could lead to ongoing cost efficiencies of up to £30 million. But it also said it would cost £5.4m to implement the plans, a sum that would be paid by regulators such as the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

RPS principal policy advisor Jocelyn Parkes said that, as the GPhC had only been in existence for 18 months, it was still "finding its feet" and might have difficulty making the necessary changes. "We are concerned [about whether] a new regulator can make all of these cost efficiencies," she said. "We have no idea what the impact will be."

The GPhC, which last week announced cuts to its renewal fees, said it would "argue against any significant further change which could cause confusion as well as disruption and increased costs", in its response to the Law Commission consulation.

The Law Commission closed its consultation on May 31 and is expected to submit its full report on the suggested reforms next year.