THE SNP Scottish government has “lost it way” on public health and its inaction will “prolong the suffering of those most in need,” health experts warned yesterday.

The Non-Communicable Disease Alliance Scotland (NCDAS), a coalition of 24 health organisations, made the remarks as they published Creating A Healthier Scotland, setting-out their 10-year vision to fundamentally change Scotland’s poor health.

Just one week after figures showed Scotland continued to have the lowest life expectancy in western Europe, the document calls for action such as new or increased taxes and restricting marketing to change the nation’s relationship with alcohol, tobacco and unhealthy food.

The NCDAS argue such actions could cut the 52,000 deaths — amounting to four in five of the total — every year from heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and lung disease, but its chairman David McColgan, has raised concerns.

He 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.

“The disparity in health outcomes is only growing.

“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.”

SNP 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.”