Consultation on Options to Increase Pharmacy Premises Fees

Overview

Fees are the primary source of income for the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (the Society) which is responsible for regulation of the pharmacy profession in Northern Ireland. 

This consultation seeks to gather views as the Department of Health considers options for increasing pharmacy Premises Fees which have not been increased since 2011. The Society as with many businesses and organisations, has faced financial challenges resulting in a large increase in its running and operating costs. The increasing cost in protecting the public in an ever evolving and innovative healthcare environment has also added an additional financial burden on the Society. Whilst the Society has until now, been able to sustain these increases, this has come at significant cost, leading to the Society having to draw down on investments and strategic reserves.

To help return the Society to financial stability and sustainability it is considered timely and appropriate to look at options to increase the current Premises Fees.

In discussions with the Society the Department considers it imperative to now consult on several options to increase Premises Fees, the revenue from which is designed to cover areas of expense to the Society, in particular the cost of developing and promoting standards and guidance relating to the operation of registered premises, conducting Fitness to Practise Investigations and to fund staff and IT related costs.

As explained in the consultation document, there are 3 categories of Premises Fees: a registration fee, an annual retention fee and a restoration to the register fee. There are 537^[1] pharmacies registered with the Society which are subject to payment of annual retention fees which accounts for the largest amount of annual revenue from Premises Fees with the other two fee categories generating minimal annual revenue. The potential increase in revenue calculations for retention fees only is included in the options below, and is based on 537 pharmacies retaining their registration each year, although the number may vary slightly from year to year. 

Why your views matter

Your view is important in helping the Department determine an appropriate fee increase that will contribute to the Society’s income and enable it to provide the high-quality service that pharmacists, patients, and the public expect of a Regulator. 

For information on how we process your information, please see the privacy notice at the end of the consulation.