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Renewal fee hikes of six per cent will be imposed by the General Pharmaceutical Council in the 2026-27 financial year, the regulator today (March 26) confirmed. 

The GPhC agreed the renewal fee increase for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises at its council meeting earlier today, announcing that from September 2026:

•  The fee for pharmacists will increase by £17 a year to £310
•  The fee for pharmacy technicians will rise by £8 a year to £146
• The fee for pharmacy premises will rise by £25 a year to £441.

This follows a consultation in early 2025 on plans for a first six per cent fee increase in September 2025 to be followed by an increase of the same proportion the following September as part of GPhC's the first multi-year fee arrangement. 

The decision on the September 2026 fee amount was deferred until today’s council meeting. 

Justifying the increase, the GPhC said it is facing a huge rise in its casework, with concerns raised by the public up 77 per cent since 2023-24 and pharmacy inspection activity up 60 per cent over the same period. 

Failure to implement a round of fee increases in September would “extend the deficits we have experienced in recent years and undermine our ability to regulate effectively,” said the GPhC, adding that while it is committed to making savings it has seen operational costs such as utility bills and employment costs go up. 

There were 3,166 responses to its 2025 consultation, of which 84 per cent disagreed with the fee proposals, with the GPhC commenting that this is consistent with trends from similar consultations in the past. 

Concerns were raised that increasing fees could force business owners to make cutbacks and affect workplace morale, with others noting that pharmacists “already pay higher fees relative to their salaries” when compared to doctors or nurses. 

GPhC chief executive Kathie Cashell said: “As the incoming chief executive, I am committed to making sure the GPhC delivers its vital work as efficiently as possible. 

“We have already delivered savings of £700,00 and set a target to make total savings of at least £1.5m by 2028 so we can respond to the significant increases in demand and avoid large fee increases in the future.

“We understand the financial pressures facing pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy businesses, and our council has not taken this decision lightly.

“Pharmacy is changing rapidly, and our work is more important than ever. This increase will help to ensure the GPhC is in a strong financial position to respond to those demands.”

Ms Cashell said the regulator’s 2026-27 delivery plan, soon to be published, will set out “the important work we will deliver over the next year to respond effectively to developments in practice”/

The GPhC’s stated priorities for the next 12 months include improving its enforcement processes, publishing new standards for superintendent and responsible pharmacists and “making further improvements to our revalidation model”.