Dr Armstrong issued his final report on the state of the nation's health

Dr Mac Armstrong made the observation in his fifth and final annual report before his retirement.

He said the country showed early signs of recovery in its health record and praised the forthcoming ban on smoking in public places.

However, he said many problems persist particularly in relation to alcohol abuse and health inequalities.

Dr Armstrong said: "We have lived for too long with this legacy of one of the most appalling health records in Europe. And we are still living with it.

The health benefits to all of making public places smoke free are priceless Dr Mac Armstrong Chief Medical Officer

"As my report makes clear, there are many serious and growing problems particularly with alcohol abuse and also health inequalities.

"But I think we are now seeing some early signs of recovery.

"Lifting the smoking blanket from our pubs, clubs and restaurants is undoubtedly the most significant measure in a generation to improve our nation's health."

Dr Armstrong said that he sensed a "wider cultural change" across Scotland towards the issue of health with more and more Scots viewing it as "something to be enjoyed".

He explained how it will take at a generation before the nation can fully address its poor health record and said there is no "short-term fix" to the problem.

Dr Armstrong also pointed towards the need for Scots to change their attitudes to alcohol.

The Scottish Executive said it aims to reduce the nation's health inequalities through a 15% improvement in key areas of health for the most deprived communities by 2008.

These are:

• Coronary Heart Disease mortality in people under 75 years old;

• Cancer mortality in people under 75 years old;

• Adult smoking;

• Smoking during pregnancy;

• Teenage pregnancy;

• Suicides in young people.

The government said it will also provide �15m over two years to the three NHS boards with the highest deprivation concentration - Argyll and Clyde, Tayside and Greater Glasgow.

The money will be used to focus on access to and use of primary and secondary health care services within those regions.

The government is also putting �8m over the next two years into the treatment of alcohol abuse across Scotland alongside prevention and support.

'Enormous potential'

Scottish National Party health spokeswoman Shona Robison called for a co-ordinated effort to improve Scotland's health through an attack on poverty and inequality.

Ms Robison said the report showed Scotland was falling behind other countries in terms of life expectancy and health inequalities within Scotland were increasing.

She said: "It is utterly unacceptable that in the 21st Century many Scots are consigned to an early death due to the underlying problems of poverty.

"It is even more shocking that these inequalities are widening. We are a wealthy country with enormous potential, but our health record in parts of Scotland reads like that of a developing country. No amount of executive spin can account for their abject failures in this area."