Minister for Public Health

The Minister for Public Health is a Junior ministerial post in the Scottish Government. The post was first created as Minister for Public Health in May 2007 after the appointment of the Scottish National Party minority administration. It was renamed in February 2009 and then again in 2011.

The minister reports to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, who has overall responsibility for the portfolio, and is a member of cabinet. The Minister for Public Health has specific responsibility for public health, health improvement, pharmaceutical services, food safety and dentistry, community care, older people, mental health, learning disability, substance misuse and health promotion.

List of office holders
The current Minister for Public Health is Michael Matheson MSP.

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 * colspan="7"|

Minister for Public Health
!colspan="2"|Name ! width=75|Portrait !Entered Office !Left Office !Party !First Minister
 * Shona Robison
 * Shona Robison
 * Shona Robison


 * Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health and Sport.jpg
 * 17 May 2007
 * 10 Feb 2009
 * Scottish National Party
 * Alex Salmond


 * colspan="7"|
 * colspan="7"|

Minister for Public Health and Sport

 * Shona Robison
 * Shona Robison
 * Shona Robison


 * Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health and Sport.jpg
 * 11 Feb 2009
 * 20 May 2011
 * Scottish National Party
 * Alex Salmond


 * colspan="7"|

Minister for Public Health



 * Michael Matheson
 * Michael Matheson


 * MichaelMathesonMSP20110507.JPG
 * 20 May 2011
 * "Incumbent"
 * Scottish National Party
 * Alex Salmond
 * }
 * }

History
From 1999 to 2007 public health was the responsibility of the Minister for Health and Community Care and the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care. The Salmond government, elected following the 2007 elections, created the junior post of Minister for Public Health who assists the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing in the Scottish Government.

In 2009 the post became the Minister for Public Health and Sport after assuming the Sport portfolio. From 2011 the post reverted to the title of Minister for Public Health.

The minister does not attend the Scottish Cabinet.