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The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is urging pharmacists to renew their membership or join the Society by 28 February to be eligible to vote on its proposals for change to become The Royal College of Pharmacy.

According to the current RPS rules, those eligible to vote are pharmacists who are currently, or who have been, registered with the pharmacy regulator, (either the GPhC, or RPSGB when it was the regulator) and who are a member or fellow of the RPS on 28 February.

Eligibility to vote is not dependent on the country a member lives in, or whether they are retired or not currently working, as long as the above criteria are met, says the Society. This does mean that associate members, pharmaceutical scientists and student members are not eligible to vote.

The Special Resolution Vote on the proposed changes to the Society’s Royal Charter, which are required to implement the Assembly’s November 2024 Resolution to become the Royal College of Pharmacy and a registered charity, opens on 13 March and closes at 5pm on 24 March.

Two-thirds of those members who vote must vote in favour of the Assembly Resolution for it to pass.

The proposed changes to the Charter have been informally reviewed by both the Privy Council Office and Charity Commission in advance of publication to members, says the Society.

RPS chief executive Paul Bennett said: "I urge you to renew your membership, if it’s due, by 28 February. If it lapses or you are not a member by then, you won’t be able to participate in this historic vote on the Society’s proposed transition to Royal College status. If you’re considering becoming a member, join by 28 February to ensure your participation.”

Details of the Charter changes and SRV can be found on the RPS website at: https://www.rpharms.com/changeproposals