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, pharmacies are mostly privately owned. Those in hospitals in the UK are now often privately run.
Trade in drugs in the United Kingdom was first regulated by the Guild of Peppers from 1180. The 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 pharmacists.
In 2024 there were widespread shortages of medicine. 24% of patients said they had difficulties getting medicine their doctor had prescribed.[1]
Medicine prescribed by a doctor was free at the start of the NHS, but later there were prescription charges, which is usually £9.90 per item.[2] Contraceptives are free however. Many people do not have to pay, (being exempt). These people include minors (young, under 16 in the UK) or the elderly (aged 60 or over), 16-18 year olds in full-time education, pregnant women or people that have had a baby in the last 12 months, NHS inpatients. Also, people with a valid maternity exemption certificate (and have had a baby in the last 12 months) or medical exemption certificate or war pension certificate, or NHS tax credit exemption certificate, do not have to pay the fee.[2] In 15 April 2026, free prescriptions for people on benefits (universal credit/jobseekers allowance or income support) were stopped and now these people are not exempt.[3]
Boots UK Limited, now part of Walgreens Boots Alliance, has 2,232 shops across the United Kingdom with more in Ireland, Thailand and Norway.[4]
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.[5] In 2023 it sold or closed many of its branches (stores) and only had 138 pharmacies in October 2023.[6] In November 2023 it announced that it was selling all its community pharmacy branches.[7]
In 2023 there were 11,026 community pharmacies in England. 160 closed between 2021 and 2013. Costs had risen because of inflation. The Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies says that there has been a 30% cut in government funding over the last seven years, after taking account of inflation. In Scotland pharmacies are paid for every consultation and they can do more prescribing than in England.[8]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ Janković, Saša (2024-04-30). "Medicines shortages affect almost a quarter of patients, patient group report shows". The Pharmaceutical Journal. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
- 1 2 "What help can you get to pay for your NHS prescription? | Healthwatch". www.healthwatch.co.uk. 2025-09-26. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
- ↑ "Exemptions from the prescription charge". Community Pharmacy England. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
- ↑ "International Segment". Walgreens Boots Alliance. 2020-01-06. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
- ↑ Winchester, Levi (2023-03-03). "Lloyds Pharmacy 'puts all 1,300 branches at risk of closure' in high street blow". mirror. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
- ↑ Lipanovic, David (2023-10-17). "LloydsPharmacy closes 90% of branches in 18 months". The Pharmaceutical Journal. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ↑ Lovell, Tammy (2023-11-23). "LloydsPharmacy sells all of its community pharmacy branches". The Pharmaceutical Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ↑ "Scores of local pharmacies closing across England". BBC News. 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-05-08.