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What is changing?

There will be several changes that will have a direct impact on pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy owners and employers:

• The GPhC will be operating a risk-based system of regulation that allows it to focus its resources where they are most needed while still encouraging innovation and maintaining thoroughness and high-quality practice.
• The GPhC will not have a non-practising register
• The GPhC will publish a new framework for continuing professional development (CPD) for all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians that will help them to deliver high-quality services and care. CPD will become statutory under rules which the GPhC will make in due course.
• The GPhC will also publish standards for proficiency, education and training and conduct, ethics and performance.
• In addition, statutory standards for pharmacy owners, superintendent pharmacists and premises are being introduced for the first time, to ensure a high-quality environment for patients and professionals.
• The GPhC will be an independent regulator with public protection as its main objective, and a new approach to governance will be introduced. The GPhC will have a Council of 14 appointed members, including the Chair, with equal numbers of professional and lay people.
• A more flexible approach to the setting of fees is proposed that will allow for different levels of fees to be set for individuals and premises. Various changes to the fee structure are proposed, including the cessation of special fees for overseas or non-practising registrants. For new registrants, the renewal fees will be due one year after the date of initial entry.
• The GPhC will be responsible for completing the statutory registration of pharmacy technicians by 2011. Technicians have a two-year period in which to register from the onset of statutory registration on 1 July 2009.