The UK’s Chief Pharmaceutical Officers have given their support to our proposals to become a Royal College, calling it “a historic opportunity” to strengthen pharmacy leadership and professional collaboration across the UK. 

RPS President Professor Claire Anderson said: “We warmly welcome the support of the Chief Pharmaceutical Officers across the UK for our proposed move to a royal college and charitable status. The vote opens at 9am on Thursday 13 March until 5pm Monday 24 March and I urge everyone to cast their vote in favour of the resolution and be part of shaping the future.”

11 March 2025

Joint Statement from the UK Chief Pharmaceutical Officers

“We strongly encourage Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) members and fellows to take this historic opportunity to vote in favour of a Royal College of Pharmacy.

“A royal college is the optimum vehicle for the realisation of everyone’s ambitions for pharmacy, underpinned by a genuine process of co-creation and continued collaboration.

“As Chief Pharmaceutical Officers (CPhOs), our interest is in supporting and guiding the transition to an authoritative, effective and sustainable structure of pharmacy professional leadership in the UK. Through the UK Commission and the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board (UKPPLAB), we have signalled the importance of a coherent professional voice and already committed significant leadership, expertise and resources to the process.

“We greatly appreciate the contributions of all UKPPLAB members, including the RPS, both personally and organisationally, to making a success of this collaborative initiative on behalf of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians across the UK.

“Following a successful vote we fully anticipate a roadmap to future excellence and inclusivity as the next step.

“We have arrived at a moment when we all need to work together with trust, openness and mutual understanding so we are able to reap the considerable benefits for all those working in pharmacy and cement our key purpose for patients and our communities. Voting in favour of a Royal College of Pharmacy is a profound step we can take towards this future.”

UK CPhOs:

Andrew Evans, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Wales 

Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Northern Ireland 

Alison Strath, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Scotland 

David Webb, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England 

Find out more about our Special Resolution Vote and our proposals for change.