In this season opener of Spotlight, Nicola McEwen and Kezia Dugdale explore the future of Scotland's health, focusing on prevention, systems change, and the social determinants of health.

Nicola speaks with Professor Sir Gregor Smith, Chief Medical Officer for the Scottish Government, about the long-term challenges facing the health service, the concept of Realistic Medicine, and why prevention must be central to Scotland's public health strategy. Their wide-ranging conversation touches on political decision-making pressures and the potential of AI in healthcare, offering a compelling vision for reimagining health systems.

Kezia brings in two leading voices from the University of Glasgow:

• Professor Petra Meier, Policy Modelling for Health Consortium Director, whose modelling work has influenced key public health policies such as Minimum Unit Pricing.
• Dr David Blane, Academic Lead for the Deep End GP Project, which addresses health inequalities in Scotland's most deprived communities.

Together, they unpack the economic and social drivers of health, barriers to preventative care, and the importance of whole-system approaches to improving outcomes.