Health experts set out necessary action to drive down deaths in Scotland

Health experts have teamed up to produce a strategy aimed at tackling the key risk factors causing death and ill-health in Scotland, accusing the Scottish Government of having lost its way on health protection.

Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Alliance Scotland, a coalition of 24 health organisations, has set out a 10-year vision seeking to fundamentally change Scotland’s poor health.

Alcohol, tobacco and unhealthy food and drink are known to cause non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and lung disease.

They are estimated to be responsible for four in five deaths in Scotland and last year they were believed to have caused more than 52,000 deaths.

In a report published on Monday entitled Creating A Healthier Scotland, NCD Alliance Scotland is calling for action to reduce the impact of health-harming products.

It warns Scotland is in the grip of an alcohol emergency, a new generation is threatened by addictive nicotine products, and an unhealthy food and drink culture is being fuelled by exploitative marketing tactics.

The report outlines key principles to protect public health such as restricting the marketing of health-harming products, exploring levies and taxes, and reducing their availability.

David McColgan, chairman of NCD Alliance Scotland, said: “As the Scottish Parliament marks 25 years since devolution, we have many great moments to point to where Scotland has led the way, including the smoking ban in public places in 2006 and minimum unit pricing of alcohol in 2012.

“However, it is apparent that the Scottish Government has lost its way and its bravery in taking principled stances to protect the health of the people of Scotland.

“Government inaction only serves to prolong the suffering of those most in need of support in Scotland.

“And the disparity in health outcomes is only growing, with tactics such as price promotion, marketing and availability, strangling individuals’ choices.

“This work is a call to Government and parliamentarians to look at the actions of health-harming industries, who profit from the ill-health of Scots.

“It is a call to regulate their activities and reduce their influence and availability of health-harming products like alcohol, tobacco and high fat, salt and sugar food and drink in our communities.

“Government action doesn’t reduce choice for consumers, it protects that choice and helps make the healthy choice the easy choice for all people in Scotland.”

Public health minister Jenni Minto said: “We welcome this report and are continuing to engage closely with the NCD Alliance Scotland.

“Increasing healthy life expectancy and reducing health inequalities across Scotland remains a clear ambition for this Government.

“This work supports the development of the Population Health Framework, which will consider what more can be done to address the social and economic causes of ill-health and to build a Scotland – with places and communities – that positively supports health and wellbeing.”