The scheme for the 2026 election provides for eight substantive places on the English Pharmacy Advisory Council for members or fellows who works wholly or mainly in England, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
The first four candidates elected shall serve for three years and the remaining four candidates elected shall serve for two years.
In the event that there are eight or fewer candidates, which means that an election is not required to be held to fill the vacancies, the allocation of the terms of office shall be determined by drawing of lots. This follows the process to be used in the event of a tied vote as set out in section 16(2) of the election scheme: “The election shall be decided between the tied candidates by the drawing of lots conducted by the scrutineer.”
The eligibility criteria are set out below.
Nominations for candidates in the English Pharmacy Advisory Council election cannot be made until 5 January 2026 and must be made via the independent scrutineer, Mi-Voice’s website.
For further information, please contact Mi-Voice Support on 02380 763987.
The nomination must include details of two member nominators.
*A member or fellow who is resident overseas at the time the electoral roll is closed shall be entitled to nominate a candidate for the English Pharmacy Advisory Council, unless they have opted to be an elector of one of the other national pharmacy advisory councils.
Nominations for election to these vacancies must be received by 17:00 on 2 February 2026. A nomination submission may be withdrawn by notice in writing, signed by the prospective candidate and delivered to support@mi-voice.com no later than 17:00 on 18 February 2026.
Eligibility criteria
- A member shall be eligible for election only if they are a member or fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council;
- A member or fellow may only stand for election to one council;
- A member or fellow shall be eligible for election to the English Pharmacy Advisory Council only if they work wholly or mainly in England, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. Where a person’s place of employment is not linked to one nation, their place of primary residence shall be used as the basis for this criteria;
- If, by resolution of a council, any elected member of that council has ceased to meet the requirements relating to their residency they shall cease to be a member of the council in question;
- No member or fellow shall be eligible for election if they have failed to pay by the date and time fixed for the return of nomination forms (2 February 2026) any subscription or other debt due and payable by them to the Society;
- No member or fellow shall be eligible for election if they have been charged with a criminal offence (except where that charge is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974) or have been notified by the Society or any professional, regulatory or public body that they are subject to investigation in relation to their conduct or competence, and the matter is unresolved;
- No member or fellow shall be eligible for election if they are employed by the Society;
- Any member or fellow standing for election must be able and willing to serve as a trustee of the Royal College of Pharmacy (whether appointed or not) — noting that both senate and trustee composition relies on elected national pharmacy advisory council members.
Timetable
It is expected that voting instructions will be sent to the electorate on or about 18 February 2026. The deadline for voting will be 17:00 on 11 March 2026.
Newly elected council members will take office at 00.01 on 15 April 2026 pending the decision from the privy council to become a royal college (NB — please be aware that this date could be subject to change — in the event that privy council’s approval of the amended charter to become a royal college is delayed, those elected will take up spaces on the national pharmacy councils under the current charter no later than 30 June 2026 [date to be confirmed] and will then automatically transfer onto the national pharmacy advisory councils when the amended charter receives royal assent).
Amandeep Doll, returning officer for England