The Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Alliance Scotland

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death and ill-health in Scotland. The NCD Alliance Scotland is comprised of nine of Scotland’s leading health charities: British Heart Foundation Scotland, Alcohol Focus Scotland, ASH Scotland, Obesity Action Scotland, Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP), Asthma and Lung UK Scotland, Cancer Research UK, Diabetes Scotland and Stroke Association. 

The NCD Alliance Scotland has come together to call on the Scottish Government for bold and transformative policy action to give everyone in Scotland the opportunity to live a healthy life, reucing the significant burden of preventalbe death and ill-health from NCDs. The report found that two thirds (67%) of Scotland’s adults believe the Scottish Government should be doing more to improve public health.

As the 2021/22 parliamentary year begins, we have come together with nine leading Scottish health charities to call for urgent action to prioritise public health in the COVID-19 recovery. We must tackle health harming products such as alcohol, tobacco, and unhealthy food and drinks to tackle and prevent NCDs.

As an integral part of the nation’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, we call on the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government to take meaningful action to reduce the impact of health harming products and to build a healthier Scotland for future generations. This report sets our priority areas for action in the first year of this Parliament.