With only one more meeting of the working party set up to advise Lord Carter on the establishment of the General Pharmaceutical Council and a royal college-type body, its terms of reference are still under discussion.
Lord Carter, who chairs the working party, is due to write his paper and present it to government ministers for consideration before Easter.
As far as the establishment of the two bodies is concerned, Hemant Patel, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: ‘I would like to see a clear timetable from the Department of Health and we should agree that timetable. I would like to see resources identified and a commitment from ministers that they will stick to it.’
The president believes that the Bill to change regulation across the health professionals is already being drafted and that it currently has 200 clauses. ‘I understand the pharmacy clauses are still to be inserted and I would like to work with the department to make sure all the relevant issues are covered.’
Health minister Lord Hunt is expecting to read the report over Easter and the president expects an announcement shortly afterwards.
Interview, p369
