For independent articles / debates on TransCom and its process please see the following websites: C&D and PJ Online.   In the government's February 2007 White Paper - Trust, assurance and safety: the regulation of health professionals - a programme of reform was set out for the regulation of pharmacy, with an implementation date of January 2010.   The White Paper stipulated the separation of regulation from the professional body for the pharmacy profession, with Professional Regulation and Leadership Oversight Group (PRLOG) overseeing the implementation of the new regulator, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
In June 2007 the Council of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB), commissioned an independent inquiry into the future professional body, the Clarke Inquiry. The Inquiry conducted an extensive consultation with the profession throughout the winter of 2007 - 2008.
The Clarke Inquiry produced a Report making 64 recommendations to the RPSGB Council, setting out the shape, style and functions that the profession wished to see in its Professional Body. Recommendation LIX of the Clarke Report suggested that "the RPSGB should convene a transitional committee charged with overseeing the project of preparing for the new Professional Body" with the main objective of this Committee being to produce "a Prospectus for the new Professional Body so that potential members can make an informed choice about membership."
The RPSGB decided to act on these recommendations and asked Nigel Clarke to chair what has become known as TransCom; the Transitional Committee. Nigel will be working with a Committee of 14   to produce the Prospectus.
TransCom will create smaller working groups with members drawn more broadly from the profession. These will tackle specific pieces of work relating to issues such as structure and member services. There will also be a Reference Group of pharmacy organisations who would not be part of a new professional body but who have an active interest in its development. The Reference Group and TransCom will meet on a regular basis.
TransCom will be holding monthly meetings in public, which are open to observers. In addition to this TransCom will be holding roadshows for the profession throughout August and September. There will be a weekly blog by a guest blogger in the profession on this website and we would encourage you to respond to this or post any comments you may have on any subject for TransCom on the comments page.
The Prospectus will be presented to the RPSGB Council in November and it will be available to the profession and downloadable from this website in December 2008.