Government is being urged to take ‘prompt and urgent action’ after statistics show the gap between the chance of dying early for the richest and poorest in Scotland is at its widest level in more than a decade.

Dr Lewis Morrison, chair of BMA Scotland, said: “It simply cannot be right that in a modern society, your chances of living a healthy life depends so much simply on where you were born.”

Yesterday’s report revealed people in the least well-off areas of Scotland are 21 times more likely to be admitted to hospital because of drug misuse.

It also showed mortality rates among young and middle-aged adults are getting worse for many, and that inequalities are growing.

These income-based health gaps ‘remain one of Scotland’s biggest challenges’, according to public health body NHS Health Scotland.

“The trend in mortality rates for adults aged under 75 years has changed. Until recently they had been improving year on year,” explains chief executive Gerry McCartney.

“Since around 2014 these have not improved at all, and mortality has gone up for people living in the poorest 40% of areas.

“…The circumstances in which we live should not impact on health so much that the right to live a long and healthy life is compromised by how much money we have.

“Undoing the causes of inequality is essential if we are to improve Scotland’s health and ensure people live in good health, for longer. It is also important that we collectively recognise the implications of the changed trend in life expectancy since 2012 on public health and take action.

He added: “We are working with partners across Scotland and the UK to complete a programme of research to develop recommendations for an appropriate response, including measures to reduce poverty and fund public services to ensure everyone’s needs are met.”

The organisation highlights life expectancy trends in Scotland are no longer improving and that this is impacting disproportionately on the most disadvantaged communities – a situation the head of NHS Health Scotland’s public health observatory has said is “unfair and preventable”.

Dr Lewis Morrison, chair of BMA Scotland said:

 “…We need to keep pursuing bold measures like minimum pricing, which we can see is beginning to impact on behaviours and in time we believe will reduce levels of harmful drinking.

“Equally, we hope the Scottish Government’s bill on food planned for this parliament will continue to lead a clear effort to improve our diet and tackle obesity.

“These measures are the right things to do – but they need to be supported by action across all areas of government. Low pay, poor educational outcomes and inadequate housing are all factors that can have a major impact on long term health.”