Professor Mahendra Patel advocates for the establishment of a Royal College of Pharmacy to enhance professional representation and collaboration…

The UK pharmacy professions are at a pivotal juncture, driven largely by the requirement for newly registered pharmacists to qualify as independent prescribers by 2026 and the urgent need for all pharmacy professions to collaborate to deliver on their full potential. These pressing needs led the four UK Chief Pharmaceutical Officers to establish the UK Commission on Pharmacy Professional Leadership, with the goal of ensuring that pharmacy professionals are appropriately supported as their roles evolve.

The Commission recommended forming a collaborative, inclusive professional leadership federation, guided by the independent UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board (UK PPLAB). The aim is to support and steer the transition to a sustainable, effective leadership structure for the pharmacy professions across the UK over the next 3-5 years.

As an Independent Expert Member of the UK PPLAB, I have seen from the outset how transformative this opportunity is. It provides a pathway to unify the profession’s leadership bodies and create a clear, strong structure that will lead pharmacy into the future.

The Commission presented three potential pathways for the future of pharmacy leadership:

Maintain the Status Quo – Keep the existing leadership structures as they are.

A Single Professional Leadership Body (PLB) – One leadership body could offer the infrastructure to host others on more equal terms.

Develop a New PLB with Royal College Recognition – Aspire towards Royal College status, with formal representation from all relevant professional and specialist groups.

The most transformative option is the establishment of a Royal College of Pharmacy. This would elevate the pharmacy professions, providing a formal structure for specialist professional groups (SPGs) to operate as faculties, which would enhance collaboration and professional development.

For the UK PPLAB to successfully guide the profession, both the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK) must critically assess their positions. They must highlight their strengths, such as established infrastructure and experience, while also addressing weaknesses like inclusivity and engagement.

This self-assessment is essential not only for these organisations but for the entire profession. It will help determine whether a new body is needed or whether an existing one can evolve to meet future demands. The immediate challenge is to build trust and foster closer collaboration between PLBs and SPGs in leadership, governance, and representation—a process that the UK PPLAB is already facilitating with great energy and commitment Read More….