The plan includes tackling health inequalities and giving the public more of a say in running the NHS.

Here is a summary of what was announced in the Scottish Parliament:

• Consultation on the possible content of a Patients' Rights Bill by May 2008, allowing patients to be treated as partners in their own care.
• Abolishing prescription charges by April 2011.
• New approaches to anticipatory care and the introduction of "life begins" health checks.
• Ensuring the NHS uses its influence as Scotland's largest employer to promote good health and take the lead in getting people into work.
• £3m a year to prevent smoking and targets for NHS boards to increase smoking cessation attendance.
• £85m over three years to tackle alcohol-related harm.
• £94m to boost drug treatment and rehabilitation services.
• £11.5m to tackle obesity, with a target for completing weight management programmes.
• Mental health first aid programme to tackle stigma, prejudice and discrimination - particularly for those with psychosis.
• Help for people suffering from depression and targets for NHS boards to cut the annual increase in anti-depressant prescribing to zero by 2009-10 and by 10% in the following years.
• Focus support on "particularly" vulnerable children.
• NHS boards to identify a lead maternity care professional to help women quit smoking and drinking during pregnancy and challenge them to improve breastfeeding rates.
• Extend free school meal entitlement and boost nursing and healthcare support in schools.
• School-based dental service to ensure 80% of three to five-year-olds are registered with a dentist by 2010-11.
• More flexible GP services to fit in with the lives of patients, including extended opening hours.
• Pilot project to provide walk-in access to primary care services at community pharmacies - such as minor injury treatments and sexual health screening - in Grampian, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Lothian and Tayside.
• Make NHS Scotland a "world leader" in patient safety.
• More than £50m to tackle healthcare associated infection.
• Maximum wait for treatment of 18 weeks from GP referral to treatment by 2011, with a £270m support package.