What is Pharmacy in the United Kingdom?
'''Pharmacy in the United Kingdom''' has been an important part of the [[National Health Service]] since it started in 1948. Unlike the rest of the NHS, [[Pharmacy|pharmacie]]<nowiki/>s are mostly privately owned. Those in hospitals are now often privately run. Trade in drugs in the United Kingdom was first regulated by the Guild of Peppers from 1180. The [[Apothecary|Worshipful Society of Apothecaries]] was started in 1617. The Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain was founded in 1841. The Pharmacy Act 1868 limited the sale of poisons and dangerous drugs to qualified [[pharmacist]]s. In 2024 there were widespread shortages of medicine. 24% of patients said they had difficulties getting medicine their doctor had [[Prescription|prescribed]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Janković|first=Saša|date=2024-04-30|title=Medicines shortages affect almost a quarter of patients, patient group report shows|url=https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/news/medicines-shortages-affect-almost-a-quarter-of-patients-patient-group-report-shows|access-date=2024-05-01|website=The Pharmaceutical Journal|language=en-US}}</ref> Medicine prescribed by a doctor was free at the start of the NHS, but later there were [[prescription charge]]<nowiki/>s, though many people do not have to pay them. [[Boots UK]] Limited, now part of [[Walgreens Boots Alliance]], has 2,232 shops across the United Kingdom with more in [[Ireland]], [[Thailand]] and [[Norway]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-06|title=International Segment|url=https://www.walgreensbootsalliance.com/our-business/international-segment|access-date=2023-03-06|website=Walgreens Boots Alliance|language=en}}</ref> [[Superdrug]] Stores plc is the second largest pharmacy chain behind Boots. [[Lloyds Pharmacy]] ran about 1300, about 10%, UK pharmacies, and employed 17,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Winchester|first=Levi|date=2023-03-03|title=Lloyds Pharmacy 'puts all 1,300 branches at risk of closure' in high street blow|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/lloyds-pharmacy-puts-1300-branches-293