Demarcation

Being a clinical pharmacist, I couldn't function without technicians.  They're an essential part of the team I work with.   I'm not afraid of them taking over my job, although I can see how some pharmacists who still think they're working in the '80s might see that.

But do I want them to be part of the Body not dissimilar to a Royal College of Pharmaceutical Chemists? (I believe that's what we'll be calling it by the time you read this).  This week we found out the first nugget from transcom that the membership will be pharmacists (practising, not practicising and retired), pre-reg's, non-pharmacists at the schools of pharmacy and pharmaceutical scientists.

The PJ initially wasn't particularly keen ( I can't find the original post, from yesterday - now replaced by the Friday PJ version), while C&D seemed relaxed about it   We don't know if the pharmaceutical scientists' demands for full membership at a fee not greater than the Royal Society of Chemists (£108) have been agreed to.

 One question that has not really been asked is would technicians want to join this future body representing pharmaceutical graduates? 

Yes, of course a few would.  In any group there's a few people who gladly stand up and promote their profession, sign up for committees, write passionate letters to journals and the like.  But do their views match the rest of the pharmacy technicians in the country.

I know a few registered pharmacy technicians who wanted to become registrants of RPSGB, a small number for whom it registration was encouraged and paid for by their company and a large number of very capable technicians who see little point in paying the extra money in order to get the PJ rather than borrowing a pharmacist's.

I've seen estimates that we could be looking at a membership of 4,000 pharmacists for the new voluntary body rather than the 44,000ish  MRPharmS-es for whom RPSGB is compulsory if they want to pay their mortgages. 

What proportion of the registered technicians population would voluntarily join the new pharmacists' body if they were allowed?  Your comments below, as always, are welcome.