The General Pharmaceutical Council has today launched a public consultation on its proposals to ensure discrimination in any form does not occur in pharmacies.

The regulator is seeking the views of patients, pharmacy professionals and pharmacy owners on the effectiveness of the draft guidance in protecting people against discrimination in relation to age, disability, gender reassignment, married or civil partnership status, being pregnant or on maternity leave, race, skin colour, nationality, religion or belief, gender and sexual orientation. The consultation runs for eight weeks.

Under the draft guidance, pharmacy owners must meet the GPhC’s standards for registered pharmacies and fulfil legal and regulatory requirements when it comes to equality.

It also calls for pharmacy staff and patients to be given equal opportunities and that includes career advancement or an individual’s experience of healthcare provision in a pharmacy.

“We are committed to delivering equality, improving diversity and fostering inclusion in everything we do as a regulator and employer,” said GPhC chief executive Duncan Rudkin (pictured). 

“We welcome feedback on the draft guidance, which aims to help pharmacy owners understand and meet the standards for registered pharmacies and fulfil their legal and regulatory duties in relation to equality.”