Scotland's Population Health Framework

Next Steps

This Framework reflects our shared commitment to improving population health by creating a healthier and more equitable society. It sets out a comprehensive approach to improving life expectancy and achieving greater health equity across Scotland by recognising health is shaped by a broad range of social, economic and environmental factors. To ensure success and sustained progress throughout the upcoming decade, it is critical that effective leadership, accountability and robust monitoring and evaluation are adopted.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Ensuring our immediate aims and longer term objectives of the Framework translate into meaningful and measurable improvements in health outcomes, a robust system of monitoring and evaluation is required. A detailed approach is being developed to assess progress, identify future challenges and support further refinement of the Framework going forward. This is likely to require a collective effort across different parts of the system.

Additionally, there will be a need for us to understand the potential of ongoing research, for example across academic research, that could provide data and evidence that will help with refining the Framework as well as supporting and tracking progress towards meeting our objectives.

Monitoring Progress

A crucial part of our ongoing monitoring at both a local and national level will be the Population Health Dashboard. This dashboard has been developed as part of the ScotPHO online profiles tool to provide data to help inform and support national and local delivery, providing a more rounded assessment of overall health and wellbeing. The dashboard has a variety of indicators structured around the internationally recognised and established ‘Marmot Eight’^[15] principles to improve health equity.

The dashboard includes data on both life expectancy and healthy life expectancy as well as a range of other indicators to monitor population health outcomes and the wider determinants – including early years, education, work, income, places, environment, discrimination and racism – which influence health and life expectancy.

We will provide updates on progress on a regular basis, setting out the achievements to date as well as an assessment of progress towards meeting our aim.

Governance and Accountability

Effective joint Scottish Government and COSLA governance and accountability will be integral to delivering on our vision and the ambitions set out in this Framework. We are committed to establishing a strong governance system which is transparent, drives future collaboration and ensures that decision making remains responsive to the future needs and challenges we may face over the next decade.

While the focus of this Framework is the health of the population, it represents a core part of our overall approach to Public Service Reform and a core responsibility of all of government. Accountability for the delivery of the actions set out lies across national and local government and all sectors who have a role in creating a healthier population.

Future Framework Updates

The current Framework provides a foundation for collective action to improve population health and reduce inequalities. Further action will be required over the ten-year period of the Framework.

To maintain momentum and adapt to emerging challenges, we will continue to engage stakeholders to ensure the priorities and actions within the Framework remain relevant and impactful throughout the next decade. The actions and priorities within the Framework will be updated regularly following the initial two year period (at a minimum of every three years) to ensure that our focus remains targeted at the most pressing issues and challenges facing population health.