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The UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board (UKPPLAB) will cease to function after July 2026.

According to a concordat published by the board this week, it has “concluded that having unanimously agreed a way forward for pharmacy professional leadership, it should be for the professional leadership organisations themselves to own and deliver that future”.

The concordat, which sets out the details of "an agreed approach to developing a new future for pharmacy professional leadership in the UK", was made between the Royal College of Pharmacy (Royal College), the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association (BPSA), the Pharmacy Forum Northern Ireland (PFNI), the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK), the British Oncology Pharmacy Association (BOPA), the College of Mental Health Pharmacy (CMHP), the Primary Care Pharmacy Association (PCPA) and the UK Clinical Pharmacy Association (UKCPA).

All seven signatories to the concordat were members of the UKPPLAB and agreed the statement, together with other board members – the independent chair and independent expert members. The concordat formalises the agreement between the seven organisations which will collectively work together, within the new Royal College framework, to implement the recommendations of the board.

A new Alliance of Pharmacy Expert Groups (APEX) will be formed and include BOPA, CMHP, PCPA, UKCPA and other invited groups, which will work in partnership with the Royal College and the other pharmacy professional leadership bodies, on policy development.

In addition, a new co-creation liaison Group (CCLG) will be established and hosted by the Royal College of Pharmacy and include APEX, APTUK, and PFNI.

The concordat reaffirms a three-stage inclusion process with the aim of developing a “comprehensive Royal College”, with key features including: 

• A broader membership, covering all parts of the UK and including registered pharmacy technicians and members of specialist professional groups (SPGs)
• A National Council for Northern Ireland within the Royal College governance model
• Distinct and equitable professional leadership representation for pharmacy technicians in the governance model (for example at Council, Senate and Board or equivalent level)
• A formal role within the Royal College’s governance and professional leadership model for the Forum of Specialist Associations.

Tase Oputu, president of the Royal College of Pharmacy, said: “This concordat is a significant moment for pharmacy professional leadership, and we commend the Board, under Sir Hugh’s leadership, for their ambition and shared commitment to working collaboratively toward a unified future that benefits professionals and the public.

“The concordat hands the baton to member organisations to make that unified future a reality, and I particularly welcome the clear articulation of UKPPLAB members’ shared pledge to co-creating an ambitious and inclusive royal college as a wider home for pharmacy.

“To create a unified, collaborative future for pharmacy professional leadership, we need an ambitious long-term strategy for the Royal College, and we are committed to ensuring our members, and the wider pharmacy community, can play their part in developing this strategy and help shape the future direction of the College.

“The concordat sets out a vision and an ambitious timeline for an inclusive future in which pharmacy technicians are part of the Royal College, a change which would require a positive special resolution vote by College members. Ahead of launching such a vote, we will need to be clear with our members and pharmacy technicians how we would protect distinct professional voices and create clear arrangements for equity and governance.

“Together, we can build the future that pharmacy professionals and patients deserve.”