You will by now have received or be about to receive a copy of the
prospectus for The New Professional Body for Pharmacy. This will
arrive in the form of a large orange A4 envelope. The publication of
this document is a key stage in the development of the new professional
body for Pharmacy and is the first real engagement of the wider Pharmacy
community in development of the new organisation.
As we have stated in our strategic plans, the APS has always
sought to develop a professional body for pharmaceutical scientists. The
development of the new Professional Body for Pharmacy is a fantastic
opportunity for pharmaceutical scientists to become further integrated
into the wider pharmaceutical community and to be recognised as
important contributors in this arena. By being a part of this body we
would have a stronger voice on the National and International stage and
the ability to develop the profession of pharmaceutical scientist.
The Academy worked hard to represent the pharmaceutical scientist in the
development of the prospectus through involvement in Transcom; the
independent committee developing the prospectus. We feel that the
prospectus is a good starting point for pharmaceutical scientists as it
clearly states its intent to include the pharmaceutical scientist in the
new professional body. Furthermore the pharmaceutical scientist will
have voting representation on the governing body or Assembly of the New
Professional Body. Both of these developments were essential for us to
be part of the New Body and we are very pleased with the position that
has been reached.. It is APS’s intention to maintain engagement
with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society as it further develops the new
professional body based on the prospectus. We, in APS, are keen
to see the development of a range of membership services applicable to
pharmaceutical scientists, the awarding of post nominals for
pharmaceutical scientists members and a realistic fee structure.
It is important to note that the prospectus is a staging point in the
development of the new professional body. It is a vehicle to initiate
further discussion with the potential membership. APS now needs
to make sure that we express what our membership would want from such a
body and what we feel about the body.
The prospectus contains a freepost feedback form on the final page. It
is vital that we as pharmaceutical scientists let the Transcom body and
the Pharmaceutical Society know our thoughts on the prospectus and your
views on the New Professional Body.
The APS board would also like to capture your views on the
prospectus and the new professional body. To this end we have set up a
blog on the APS website for you to post your opinion and debate
the prospectus with others (http://www.apsgb.org/discussion).
If however, you wish to make your opinions known in a less public forum
please feel free to e-mail me at
[email protected]. The APS board will be discussing the
prospectus in depth at our strategy retreat in early January and would
like your feedback before then if possible so that we can take it into
account in our discussions.
If you do not receive the prospectus document, and/or wish to be able to
easily share it with colleagues who may be interested, a full version is
available on the front page of the transitional committee website at
http://www.transitionalcommittee.com under the tab marked
prospectus.
Dr
Eddie French
Chair APSGB
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