Renew or join by 28 February to vote on Royal College status says RPS
Published: 21 February 2025
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
According to the current RPS Charter, regulations and SRV Scheme, those eligible to vote are pharmacists who are currently or ever have been registered with the pharmacy regulator, (either the GPhC, or RPSGB when it was the regulator) and who are a Member (entitled to use MRPharmS) or Fellow (entitled to use FRPharmS) of RPS on 28th February 2025.
Eligibility to vote is not dependent on the country a member lives in, or whether they are retired or not currently working, as long as the above criteria are met.
This means Associate Members, Pharmaceutical Scientists (unless they are either MRPharmS or FRPharmS) and student members are not eligible to vote.
The Special Resolution Vote on the proposed changes to the Society’s Royal Charter required to implement Assembly’s November 2024 Resolution to become the Royal College of Pharmacy and a registered charity, opens at 9am on Thursday 13th March and closes at 5pm Monday 24th March. Two-thirds of those members who vote must vote in support of the Assembly Resolution for it to pass.
The proposed changes to the Charter to achieve Assembly’s Resolution to become the Royal College of Pharmacy and a registered charity have been informally reviewed and scrutinised by both the Privy Council Office and Charity Commission in advance of publication to members, and the proposed amended Charter reflects the specific requirements of charity law applicable in 2025 and the Charity Commission’s informal recommendations in relation to achieving proposed charitable registration for the Royal College of Pharmacy.
Chief Executive of the RPS, Paul Bennett said:
“I urge you to renew your membership, if it’s due, by 28th February. If it lapses or you are not a member by then, you won’t be able to participate in this historic vote on the Society’s proposed transition to Royal College status and the changes to our Royal Charter that will allow us to build the stronger, louder voice that pharmacy deserves. If you’re considering becoming a member, join by 28th February to ensure your participation.”
Members and potential members can find out more about the proposed changes, details of the Charter changes and SRV together with FAQs on our hub page https://www.rpharms.com/changeproposals.
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Professor Mahendra G Patel OBE awarded Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of GPs
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has awarded an Honorary Fellowship to Professor Mahendra G Patel OBE, recognising his exceptional contributions to healthcare, research equity and cross-professional leadership. Mahendra is an RPS Fellow, former member of the RPS English Pharmacy Board and previously held the post of RPS Treasurer. This accolade is the RCGP’s highest award for non-GPs. Starting in community pharmacy, Mahendra transitioned to academia, where he pioneered the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Student Champions Programme, embedding evidence-based practice and tackling health inequalities across the curricula of 40 medical, pharmacy, nursing and dental schools. He earned one of the first NICE Fellowships for his early leadership. As a Board member for RPS England, Mahendra led the development of national diabetes initiatives and a diabetes toolkit, while forging partnerships across professional boundaries and internationally. During the pandemic he played a crucial role in increasing diversity for the major 'PANORAMIC' and 'PRINCIPLE' COVID-19 trials, efforts which were recognised by the World Health Organization and the United Nations. He is the founding director of the Centre for Research Equity, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, shaping national research policy, collaborating with the RCGP and forming strategic partnerships across the UK. As co-lead of the NIHR-supported Race Equity Incubator, he is driving efforts to strengthen research capacity and capability while fostering equitable career progression for Black and minority ethnic healthcare professionals. A member of the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board, Mahendra is a strong supporter of RPS becoming the Royal College of Pharmacy. He is also a BMJ NHS Commissioner and Professional Advisor to England’s Chief Pharmaceutical Officer. HSJ named him as one of the 50 most influential BAME figures in UK healthcare today. Professor Mahendra G Patel OBE said: “This stands as one of the proudest moments of my career, and for the pharmacy profession I represent, as RPS progresses to become the Royal College of Pharmacy. I hope this recognition becomes a catalyst: for closer collaboration, for shared leadership, and for inspiring members of both our professions to think beyond traditional boundaries – at every stage of their careers. “At a time of extraordinary pressures on general practice and pharmacy, joined-up thinking and integrated leadership across our professions has never been more urgent. I’ve always sought to break silos, widen access, and drive equity, with a clear focus on improving health outcomes by tackling the deep-rooted inequalities that persist across our communities. This Fellowship, for me, is not the culmination of that long journey, but the beginning of a renewed and fresh commitment.” RPS President Professor Claire Anderson said: “I’d like to offer my warmest congratulations to Mahendra on this prestigious Fellowship, which marks his huge contribution to the profession and healthcare. His work continues to inspire a new generation of pharmacists and researchers committed to equity, innovation, and collaborative leadership. Long may it continue.”