The leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats has called for GPs to be able to subscribe gym memberships to get people active.
Willie Rennie, who was speaking after scaling a wall at a Scouts activity centre in Fife, said “social prescribing” was a “new approach to care that reflects the fact that people become unwell for many different reasons”.
Tory leader Ruth Davidson meanwhile claimed other party leaders had provided “no answers at all on how we grow the economy”.
Mr Rennie said: “It is right that we give doctors the tools they need to help keep Scots healthy.
“Social prescribing not only allows doctors to prescribe things like gym memberships and other activities that get people moving.
“It can also see be used to prescribe heat insulation in the homes of people whose health is at risk as a result of fuel poverty, or cultural community activities for people struggling with loneliness or mental ill health.
“This is a new approach to care that reflects the fact that people become unwell for many different reasons. Social prescribing will obviously not replace medication or other treatments but it helps ensure that patients are getting the sort of care that works best for them.”
His comments came as Ms Davidson visited an Edinburgh pub to welcome comments from Liz Cameron, chief executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, who said new financial powers needed to be used “sensibly” in order to support business growth.
Ms Davidson said: “My opponents in this campaign are only focusing on how much extra they can take out of workers’ pay packets. They have given us no answers at all on how we grow the economy and increase the revenue base available for schools and hospitals.
“There is nothing socially just in making us the highest taxed part of the UK if all it does is damage the economy and reduce funds for our vital public services.”
Scotland heads to the polls on May 5.