In my professional role I need to meet certain requirements such as Continuing Professional Development (CPD), be of good standing and also pay a fee to remain on the professional register. That permits me to practice and provides an assurance that patients and the public are “protected” by ensuring the competence of pharmacists and technicians to deliver their important roles.
This regulatory role is held and delivered by the General Pharmaceutical Council
Then there is the Royal Pharmaceutical Society the professional representative body for pharmacists. Now this is a totally voluntary membership but comes at a significant cost. They champion pharmacists and the profession of pharmacy. In fact the link above gives some key “mission statements”
Our mission is to put pharmacy at the forefront of healthcare.
Sadly, the membership of the RPS has fallen over previous years, and there has been some social media “noise” over the value to the “pharmacists on the frontline”. I’ve always been a member of this professional body, as I felt I valued the work it did around putting _“pharmacy at the forefront of healthcare” _and the work it did supporting pharmacy students (the next generation of pharmacists and decision makers).
This year was the first time I considered my continued membership, when the renewal came through. I actually considered just cancelling. I didn’t, and not just because of inertia or intransigence. So here’s some of the reasons why I renewed this year.
- I’ve always felt that being a member was about supporting the profession rather than just the personal benefit I gain from membership.
- I questioned how much effort I had made to engage with the initiatives from the RPS. Had I just put my money in and not been an engaged member.
- I want to make an evidenced decision on my membership, not just a knee jerk reaction.
So my plan is, over the next year of membership is to make note of the resources I utilise, the campaigns I value and the professional aspirations that align with me.