What are non-communicable diseases?
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are diseases that are not passed from one person to another. They are chronic diseases that result from a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors.
They are the leading cause of death and ill-health in Scotland.
NCD prevalence rates in Scotland
Non-communicable diseases cause the vast majority of deaths in Scotland, responsible for around 55,000 lives lost each year (88% of all deaths).
Around 1 in 6 of these deaths could be prevented and the NCD Alliance Scotland is campaigning for action on the commercial determinants of health to prevent NCDs and improve Scotland’s health.
Health Under Influence
Health Under Influence: The Industry Playbook Behind Scotland’s Preventable Health Harms explores the tactics used by health-harming industries (linked to alcohol, junk food, and tobacco) to influence and undermine public health policy in Scotland.
Designed as a guide for all those involved in public health policymaking, the report examines how these industries seek to shape public debate, build influence, and position themselves as partners in addressing the harms associated with their own products. It highlights the implications of these tactics for public health too, and explores the broader ways in which commercial interests can shape public health.
The report also sets out practical recommendations for policymakers to strengthen transparency, identify and acknowledge conflicts of interest, and support strong governance in public health policymaking to ensure that the health of those in Scotland is put before commercial interests.
Download the Health Under Influence report
Ten-year vision for a healthier Scotland
NCD Alliance Scotland, in collaboration with public health experts from around the world, created a 10-year strategy for a healthier, fairer future for Scotland. One that is free from the burden of preventable NCDs.
The 2024 strategic report called ‘NCD Prevention: A Commercial Determinants of Health Approach’ focuses on:
- the actions taken by industries that either produce or sell products harmful to people’s health
- how these actions influence peoples’ behaviours, causing harm to their health.
The strategy calls for a unified approach to tackle health-harming products like tobacco, alcohol and food and drinks that are high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS).
It covers short, medium and long-term policy interventions to be considered over the next decade, with these 5 key principles:
- adopt a commercial determinants of health approach to public health
- effectively govern the commercial determinants of health
- restrict the marketing of health-harming products
- restrict the availability of health-harming products
- take action on the price of health-harming products
Download the public engagement summary report
Our manifesto for tackling NCD prevention
NCD Alliance Scotland’s 2026 manifesto builds on our 10-year vision for a healthier Scotland. We are calling for policy priorities grounded in decisive, evidence-based action to:
- reduce the harm driven by health-harming products and commercial practices
- address persistent health inequalities
- prioritise people’s health and wellbeing over profit.
NCD Alliance Scotland’s other work
Cross-party inquiry
In 2023, NCD Alliance Scotland (formerly known as NCD Prevention Coalition) facilitated a cross-party inquiry into NCD prevention with involvement from several Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) from the 4 main Parliamentary parties.
Download the inquiry report and read the MSPs’ position statement:
- Cross-Party Inquiry report (PDF, 2MB, 16 pages)
- MSP position statement (PDF, 315KB, 1 page)
Past reports by the NCD Prevention Coalition
- Mapping Future Harm (PDF, 2.2KB, 10 pages)
- BHF Scotland trend projections report 2022 (PDF, 2.6KB, 11 pages)
- NCD Prevention Report Scotland 2021 (PDF, 2.8KB, 16 pages)
- NCD Prevention Report Scotland 2020 (PDF, 1.5KB, 9 pages)
Public health calls
Find out more about our previous public health recommendations, case for action and evidence behind each of our calls:
- 8 public health calls (PDF, 1.5MB, 16 pages)
- Case for action ‘Scotland’s Health: Preventing Harm Through Action’ (PDF, 1.8MB, 4 pages)
- References used in our reports (PDF, 293KB, 11 pages)