Health spokesperson emphasizes working with community groups to boost screening uptake and delivering a named care navigator for every patient to support families.

The party reiterates plans for a modern lung cancer screening programme, nationwide self-sampling for cervical cancer, and a targeted prostate cancer screening pilot.

Scotland’s cancer mortality risk is at a record low for both men and women, a 12.1% drop from 2015 to 2024, attributed to earlier detection and better treatments, with officials noting more work remains.

Every cancer patient would have a dedicated care navigator guiding them from suspicion through treatment, with a tailored plan covering treatment, mental health support, and employment guidance.

Scottish Labour pledges to tackle gross inequalities in cancer screening and to meet the 62-day cancer treatment standard, which has not been met since 2012.

Leader Anas Sarwar highlights tackling delays, outdated diagnostics, and overwhelmed radiology staff to improve early detection and treatment outcomes.

If elected, Labour would roll out a modern lung cancer screening programme, launch a national self-sampling cervical cancer programme, and pilot a targeted prostate cancer screening.

The government points to record-low cancer deaths and improvements in diagnostic activity and timeliness, while acknowledging ongoing work to further reduce waiting times.

Labour frames its plan as accelerating SNP-screening efforts and delivering a new direction, promising faster adoption of lung cancer screening and improved access with community collaboration.

Public health updates note high timely treatment rates (95.1% treated within 31 days of decision to treat), rising diagnostic activity, spring self-sampling cervical kits, and a forthcoming cervical screening action plan.

Labour pledges to address inequalities in cancer screening, upgrade decades-old diagnostic scanners with AI-enabled technology to speed diagnoses and expand appointment capacity, and focus on hard-to-reach communities.