Question reference: S6W-24814
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 25 January 2024
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Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 February 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work has been done to upgrade the NHS Scotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) funding formula, and when any update will be published.
Answer
The Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring funding is distributed equitably across the country as set out in the 2021-22 Programme for Government. The existing National Resource Allocation Formula (NRAC) is updated on an ongoing basis for a range of factors including population demographics, relative health needs and remote and rural factors. We will continue to assess the need for a more detailed review of the formula, in line with developments in National Care Service funding and Integration reform.
The formula is inherently complex and the review will take time. However, work to determine how the review should be taken forward is underway, with initial meetings of the Technical Advisory Group on Resource Allocation (TAGRA) having taken place, considering the next steps to determine scope and timing of the review.
Further work is required prior to confirmation of a timeline for the publication of the updated formula.