Following a consultation on its fee structure in March this year, the General Pharmaceutical Council is to retain a flat-fee structure for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, rather than introduce differential fees to recognise personal circumstances such as parental leave or part time work.

The GPhC also plans to introduce a multi-year fees cycle. This means that fees would be set for a few years rather than being reviewed every year. In its consultation the GPhC suggested it could review registration fees every three years.

It expects to take forward the next stages of its fee strategy in 2022, according to papers presented at the September Council meeting.

In addition to registration fees, the GPhC also sought views on whether it should explore charging for accrediting and reaccrediting, or recognising and re-recognising, all training courses “as part of its wider financial strategy to deliver a financially stable organisation that can effectively fund the cost of regulation”.

The GPhC received 2,447 responses to the consultation - 419 from individuals and 28 from organisations. Overall, respondents generally agreed with each of its proposals. Around three quarters of respondents supporting the GPhC’s preference to keep a flat-fee structure and the proposal to introduce a multi-year fees cycle.

Agreement was lower on whether it should explore charging for accrediting or recognising training courses, with only round two-fifths of respondents backing the proposals. The GPhC is planning a review of how it carries out accreditation.