Centres giving out “heart and lung” checks in community pharmacies are part of the SNPs latest pledge for the upcoming election.
They plan to operate as “one stop shops” in sites like community pharmacies, shopping centres, football clubs and workplaces.
The SNP said they would “support early diagnosis and prevention of diseases like cancer, COPD and cardiovascular disease”, which will help “ensure that anyone attending receives the right advice and support”.
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The scheme is influenced by “Japan’s successful model of health MOTs”, which involve Japanese citizens taking part in annual health check-ups focused on early detection and preventative care.
The SNP pledged to “work in partnership with employers, organisations and the third sector”.
The party compared the scheme to the “Every Don Initiative” at Aberdeen Football Club, where fans can receive health checks whilst going to see a match.
“Proactive measures”
SNP leader John Swinney said: “As our population ages and our healthcare system faces growing pressure, proactive measures to keep people healthier are more important than ever.
“They will identify conditions earlier, improve outcomes and help free up capacity in our NHS.”
“By bringing check-ups and advice into everyday community settings - from workplaces and pharmacies to football clubs and shopping centres - we can reach people who might not otherwise come forward, particularly in more disadvantaged communities,” he added.
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It comes after Boots launched in February, a free health MOT in pop-ups across the country.
Boots said it was “bringing pharmacists into the community in the moments and places you’d least expect”, with a goal of making “expert health advice more accessible than ever”.
In March, Liverpool City Council also debuted a pilot of a heart health scheme in Lower House Lane pharmacy, which is offering “point of care NTproBNP blood testing” to spot heart failure early.
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The pilot is promoting the BEAT initiative, which aims to help spot and raise awareness for key symptoms, “Breathlessness, Exhaustion, Ankle swelling” leading to “Time to get checked”.
Meanwhile, the SNP have reiterated their intention to keep prescriptions free in Scotland after Reform’s Lord Offord edited a paper encouraging the end of free prescriptions.
The SNP’s cabinet health and social care secretary Neil Gray said, “the SNP is proud to have abolished prescription charges in Scotland, ensuring that everyone has access to the medication they require based on their needs rather than the ability to pay.”
Prescriptions have been free in Scotland for over 15 years, with the SNP calculating that this saves “households in Scotland an average of nearly £450 each year”.
