Royal Pharmaceutical Society
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has ceased its membership of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), owing to concerns over its cost.
According a statement from president Claire Anderson, published on 18 March 2022, the RPS Assembly informed FIP in November 2021 of its intention to leave, effective from December 2021.
FIP describes itself as the global body representing pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences and pharmaceutical education. Its membership includes 146 national organisations.
In 2018, the RPS hosted FIP’s world congress in Glasgow.
Anderson’s statement said that the decision to stop FIP membership was made after discussions regarding participation with “a range of international organisations”.
“Prior to this, we had invited FIP to propose new ways or working with RPS to improve the value and reduce the cost of membership,” the statement said.
“We had concerns regarding the extent of the annual membership fee, the associated costs of participation in FIP events and attendance at meetings. This amounted to an annual recurring membership fee of around £31,000, and an additional £53,000 in meeting attendance costs, travel and accommodation, etc. in 2019.”
Anderson’s statement added that some Assembly members “felt that there was no perceptible value in membership of FIP as currently experienced, and it was difficult to identify any return on investment”.
She also noted that other Assembly members held the opposite view.
“However, no decision is forever, and I am very keen to hear your views on these matters. If you haven’t booked already, I would encourage you to attend our AGM in May [2022] and to please consider writing a motion if you feel strongly about these or other issues.”
In a statement posted on Twitter, FIP said: “It is regretful that RPS has decided not to be a member of FIP in 2022, especially at a time when global solidarity on issues that affect us all, such as pharmacy workforce capacity, antimicrobial resistance, access to medicines and pharmaceutical care, and sustainability, is so important.”
