Scottish Government invest over £16bn in funding for health

Article summary

The Scottish Government has invested over £16bn funding for NHS Scotland, mental health and drug services in its 2021–22 Scottish Budget. The Health Portfolio will receive an increase of 5.3% in the 2021–22 spending, including an additional £869m for tackling coronavirus (COVID–19). In response to the pandemic, funding for frontline NHS boards has increased to £11.6bn to aid frontline services with responding to the challenges of coronavirus. The Health Secretary, Jean Freeman, said: ‘We will also continue to provide investment for direct interventions to address health inequalities, exacerbated by COVID-19, to create a Scotland where we can live longer, healthier lives.’