The Scottish Government says the step has been taken to fight fraud, particularly in terms of deterring non-British-residents from outside the EU from obtaining free NHS treatment to which they are not entitled.
Patients registering with GP practices in Scotland are being asked to sign a new declaration allowing their details to be shared with at least eight government agencies – a move doctors have described as frightening.
The Scottish Government says the step has been taken to fight fraud, particularly in terms of deterring non-British-residents from outside the EU from obtaining free NHS treatment to which they are not entitled.