To ask the Minister of Health, in light of a proposed increase in the registration fee for pharmaceutical chemists, to outline any recent engagement with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland regarding their registration fees being higher than other equivalent bodies in the UK.

The President, and the Chief Executive of Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland, wrote to the Department in April regarding the outcome of the consultation on their proposed increase in the registration and retention fees for Pharmacists registered in Northern Ireland.

The Society have acknowledged that this increase has not been welcomed despite their proposed changes to fee collection. They have therefore indicated that they will commit to enhancing transparency, through their Annual Reporting process, on how monies are spent and to explore options to support the introduction of a flexible fee structure.

I have made clear to the Society my expectation that, when bringing forward draft regulations on changes to their fees, they are able to demonstrate how the considerable financial pressures facing the pharmacy sector have been taken into account. The Department expects that PSNI will set out this rationale in a business case.

The Society is responsible for the underlying policy in relation to fees for registrants, making the legislative amendments and implementing the final regulations.