Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) has become the first negotiating body to officially extend membership to pharmacy technicians, it announced yesterday (July 16).

Registered technicians living and working in Scotland will, as associate members be able to access exclusive CPS content online, including updates on contractual developments, insurance services and expert advice about the sector. The move follows CPS's decision to extend its membership to employee pharmacists in February.

CPS pharmacy services manager Matt Barclay told C+D the negotiator was hoping for a "significant number" of technicians to sign up for membership.

Technicians were an important part of the pharmacy team and membership should help them to provide "the host of services that pharmacies now deliver", he added.

Technicians wishing to take up the offer of free associate membership need to fill out a form available on the CPS website.

Fellow contract negotiators PSNC and Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW) told C+D they had no plans to extend membership to include employee pharmacists or technicians.

	Do you think allowing technicians to join the CPS is a good idea?