Public Health Scotland publishes new 10-year strategy: Together We Can
First published on 27 January 2026
- Corporate information
Public Health Scotland (PHS) has today published its new 10-year strategy, Together We Can, setting out a clear and ambitious direction for improving and protecting the health and wellbeing of people across Scotland.
Scotland continues to face significant and urgent public health challenges. Too many people experience preventable ill health, and the gap in life expectancy between the most and least deprived communities remains far too wide. These pressures not only affect individuals and communities but also place increasing strain on health and public services across the country.
Together We Can responds directly to these challenges. Our strategy provides a focused, evidence-based framework to bring national and local partners together around a shared purpose: improving life expectancy and narrowing health inequalities across the next decade.
It sets out the practical steps PHS will take, and describes how collective action across Scotland’s public, third, and private sectors will be essential to achieving the scale of change required.
Developed with extensive input from PHS staff, Board members, partners and stakeholders, the strategy reflects the insight, ambition and experience of people working across Scotland’s health and care system and beyond. Their contributions have shaped a direction that is both bold and deliverable.
At the heart of the strategy are five drivers for change that will guide Scotland’s approach to improving public health over the coming decade:
- Building a prevention-focused system
- Improving social and economic conditions
- Strengthening places and communities
- Enabling healthy living
- Providing equitable access to health and care
These drivers structure the actions PHS will take and set a clear foundation for how the organisation will work with partners to improve outcomes for people and communities.
Ally Boyle, Chair of Public Health Scotland, said:
“Scotland faces urgent public health challenges, from preventable ill health to deep rooted inequalities. Our strategy, Together We Can, sets out a clear ambition to tackle these challenges and improve health for everyone over the next decade.
“Across every pillar of public health, we’ve been challenged to deliver real, measurable improvement over the next decade - and that is exactly what we intend to do.
“We’ll achieve this by connecting people, ideas and experience, and by shaping a culture that values collaboration, creating the conditions where our shared ambition becomes real and lasting, and positive change is delivered for the people of Scotland.”
Paul Johnston, Chief Executive of Public Health Scotland, said:
“Together We Can sets out a bold and hopeful vision for the next decade, which shows how we will work to improve and protect the health of people in Scotland. It provides a focused, evidence-driven direction not just for Public Health Scotland, but for the nationwide effort needed to create meaningful, lasting change.
“We know that no single organisation can shift Scotland’s health outcomes on its own. Real progress depends on working side by side with our partners across national and local government, the NHS, the third sector and communities everywhere. Therefore, this strategy is a shared commitment - one we will deliver collaboratively, drawing on the strengths and experiences of people and organisations across the country.
“Together, we can improve life expectancy, narrow inequalities and create a fairer, healthier Scotland for everyone.”
Public Health Scotland will continue to engage with partners, communities and staff to ensure the strategy leads to real improvements across Scotland.