The Government determines national objectives for health services and offers guarantees on behalf of patients.
It provides a clear statutory and financial framework for NHSScotland and holds it to account for its performance.
The NHS is 60 years old on July 5, 2008.
A rolling programme of activities and events are being planned across NHSScotland at national and NHS Board level to celebrate and recognise past achievements and acknowledge how far healthcare has evolved over the last six decades.