Renew membership to vote on Royal College status - RPS urges pharmacists

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) is urging pharmacists to renew their membership by 28 February 2025 or join by this date to be eligible for the upcoming Special Resolution Vote (SRV) on its proposed transition to The Royal College of Pharmacy.

Under the current RPS Charter, regulations, and SRV Scheme, eligible voters include pharmacists who are or have been registered with the pharmacy regulator—either the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or the former Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB).

To participate, they must hold Member (MRPharmS) or Fellow (FRPharmS) status with the RPS on 28 February 2025.

Voting eligibility is not affected by a member’s location, retirement status, or current employment, as long as they meet the criteria.

However, Associate Members, Pharmaceutical Scientists (unless they hold MRPharmS or FRPharmS status), and student members are not eligible to vote.

The SRV, which seeks to amend the Society’s Royal Charter to facilitate its transition to a Royal College and registered charity, will open at 9 am on Thursday, 13 March, and close at 5 pm on Monday, 24 March 2025.

For the resolution to pass, two-thirds of participating members must vote in favour.

The proposed Charter amendments have undergone informal review and scrutiny by the Privy Council Office and Charity Commission to ensure compliance with charity law and regulatory recommendations.

Paul Bennett, chief executive of the RPS, emphasised the significance of membership renewal by 28 February, stating: “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 and the changes to our Royal Charter.”

He added that the proposed changes would help create “the stronger, louder voice that pharmacy deserves” and urged those considering membership to join by the deadline to ensure their participation.