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The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has announced a 6% rise in its annual registration fees for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises, effective September 2026.
In a statement published on 26 March 2026, the regulator said that pharmacist renewal fees will increase by £17 a year to £310, pharmacy technician fees by £8 to £146, and pharmacy premises fees by £25 to £441.
It said this will equate to an extra £1.42 a month for pharmacists, 67 pence a month for pharmacy technicians and £2.08 a month for pharmacy premises.
This follows a previous fee rise in September 2025, when the GPhC increased its annual registration fees by 6% after a consultation that received over 3,100 responses. The majority opposed the proposals, with concerns raised at the time by organisations including the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Pharmacists’ Defence Association.
In its statement, the regulator said the increase was agreed at its March 2026 council meeting, after it was deemed “necessary” to respond to the organisation’s workload and costs, which have “continued to significantly increase”.
“Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacies are taking on wider responsibilities and providing more services,” it said.
It added that while these developments improve patient access to healthcare, they also increase “the work the GPhC needs to do to effectively regulate pharmacy”.
In its statement, the GPhC also reported that almost 9,750 concerns have been raised in 2025/2026 so far — a 77% increase compared with 2023/2024. In papers published ahead of its December 2025 Council meeting, the regulator said it had received its “highest ever recorded” number of concerns in quarter two of 2025/2026, with 2,159 concerns reported.
The GPhC also reported an increase in inspection activity by more than 60% since 2023/2024, with nearly 2,000 inspections expected to be delivered “this year”.
The GPhC added that inspectors are also providing guidance outside of inspections, with more than 600 regulatory contacts with pharmacies to date in 2026.
Kathie Cashell, chief executive of the GPhC, said: “As the incoming chief executive, I am committed to making sure the GPhC delivers its vital work as efficiently as possible. We have already delivered savings of £700,000 and set a target to make total savings of at least £1.5m by 2028 so we can respond to the significant increases in demand and avoid large fee increases in the future.
“We understand the financial pressures facing pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy businesses, and our council has not taken this decision lightly.
“Pharmacy is changing rapidly, and our work is more important than ever. This increase will help to ensure the GPhC is in a strong financial position to respond to those demands.”
According to its statement, the GPhC plans to move to a “more regular and incremental approach” to fee increases, aligned with inflation, and will consult on how pharmacy premises fees are set.
The regulator has also published guidance on how pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can claim tax relief from HMRC on their registration fees, potentially saving £62 for pharmacists and £29.20 for pharmacy technicians.
The GPhC said it would “shortly” publish its delivery plan for 2026/2027, setting out how fees will be used to fund work including enforcement and inspection improvements, revalidation support, new superintendent and Responsible Pharmacist standards, and updated professional standards.
