Roy Robertson

"As a GP, I looked after multiple generations of families and it was amazing. I’ve been witness to, and part of, huge changes in healthcare and society over the decades. What I’ve learnt is that it’s only by bringing people together in academia, government and healthcare that we can create the resources and support required to reach the people who need them most. Breaking down barriers improves health outcomes for everyone.”

Roy Robertson was born in Edinburgh and graduated from Edinburgh Medical School in 1975. He trained as a GP and was working in Muirhouse when the HIV/AIDS epidemic emerged in Scotland in the 1980s. He travelled the world, learning from fellow doctors as they tried to respond to the devastation AIDS brought to communities. Along with others, his research and work with patients was critical in making the connection between drug injection and HIV spread.

He advised successive governments in Scotland, the UK and internationally, to develop guidelines for clinical management of substance use. Always advocating for humane, nonjudgemental approaches, Roy continues to be involved with public health research and teaches medical students about substance use and addiction.