RPS members vote ‘yes’ to becoming Royal College of Pharmacy

Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) members have voted in favour of becoming a royal college.

The results of a special resolution vote, announced on 26 March 2025, show that 71.1% of members voted to support proposed changes to the RPS’s Royal Charter and a transition to royal college status.

Of 6,144 votes cast, 4,369 (71.1%) were in favour of the proposals, and 1,775 (28.9%) rejected the resolution, which will see the society register as a charity and create a wholly-owned subsidiary for its publishing activities.

A two-thirds majority in favour was needed for the society to move forward with the proposals. The RPS will now aim to become the Royal College of Pharmacy by spring 2026.

There were 19,594 people eligible to vote, with a turnout of 31.4%.

Commenting on the result, Claire Anderson, president of the RPS, said: “This vote is a clear mandate in favour of the proposals we have put forward, and for the transformative change this will bring. RPS can now move forward and build the collaborative professional leadership body that pharmacy deserves.

“Our ambition is to create greater recognition for pharmacy with the public, policy-makers and other healthcare professionals and drive excellence in patient care. We believe that becoming a royal college would help us achieve these ambitions, and that, as the Royal College of Pharmacy, we would be able to take forward the commitments we have set out.”

Paul Bennett, chief executive of the RPS, said: “We have been very clear that this process was only the start of the journey that RPS must take, so that work begins now. We have committed to developing a new strategy for the new royal college and this will be a collaborative process in which our members will play a vital role.  

“We will now focus on progressing the necessary steps with the Privy Council, Charity Commission and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. Our goal is to complete our transition to royal college status by spring 2026.”

Responding the vote, Duncan Rudkin, chief executive of the General Pharmaceutical Council, said: “RPS members voting in favour of changes to the RPS’s Royal Charter and a transition to royal college status represents a significant milestone that will help to shape the future of pharmacy professional leadership.

“We look forward to continuing to work closely with the RPS, along with APTUK, the specialist pharmacy groups and other representative bodies, through the work led by the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board, to support their development of a vision and common purpose for pharmacy professional leadership in the UK.”

In a joint statement, the four UK chief pharmaceutical officers said the vote was “a great opportunity for a fresh start and a genuine step forward for pharmacy towards the realisation of our shared ambitions, one we must all step into with confidence and renewed leadership”.

“We fully anticipate a roadmap to future excellence and inclusivity as the next step, underpinning a genuine process of co-creation with wider professional leadership organsiations across the UK over the coming year,” they added.

In a statement, the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK) said: “We recognise the commitment of individuals for the work required for a special resolution vote and commend all involved for their dedication.

“We look forward to working collaboratively and constructively for an evolved pharmacy professional leadership future, to ensure equity of opportunity and representation for all.”

• This article was amended on 26 March 2025 to clarify that the percentage in the standfirst refers to the votes cast, and to include additional comments