Women's Health Plan: Phase Two 2026 - 2029 (Scottish Government, 20 January 2026)

Summary

This plan sets out new actions to address health inequalities faced by women and girls in Scotland. Building on the first Women’s Health Plan, these actions seek to advance the Scottish Government's ambition that all women and girls in Scotland enjoy the best possible health throughout their lives.

Content

The Plan identifies four priority programmes as part of this second phase of the Women’s Health Plan. These programmes are in addition to, and complement, the 40 actions with the aim of driving forward progress in women’s health.

1. Transformation of Gynaecology Services - The Scottish Government will develop, and NHS Boards will implement, a National Plan for Gynaecology. This programme of service transformation will ensure the timely provision of high-quality gynaecological care which is sustainable for the future.
2. Elimination of Cervical Cancer - The Scottish Government will develop, publish and implement an Action Plan for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer.
3. Women’s Brain Health - Women’s Brain Health will be an early priority for the work of the Brain Health and Dementia Risk Group, led by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), which is setting national priorities in response to emerging evidence around risk factors for dementia.
4. Innovation to Support Women and Girls - We recognise the transformative impact of innovation and its pivotal role in ensuring women and girls have access to the best-quality care. To support the testing, adopting and scaling of innovations to support women and girls we will explore the innovation opportunities, working with our three NHS Scotland Innovation Hubs and partners across Scotland, around three key priority areas: menopause care and support, gynaecological care and support and data to enable effective design and development of innovation.