Protests are to be held at four Dublin hospitals this week against Government plans to allow developers to build private hospitals on public land.
The Sinn Féin-organised demonstrations are a response to Health Minister Mary Harney's proposals to allow private for-profit hospitals be sited next to public hospitals.
The controversial scheme, designed to free up public beds, has been criticised as a Government investment in inequality.
The protests are to be held at St James's Hospital, Beaumont Hospital, James Connolly Hospital and Tallaght Hospital on Wednesday.
Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald described Ms Harney's initiative as "ludicrous".
"Under her scheme inequality in access to healthcare will increase, the public healthcare system will be undermined and its income reduced and the pockets of dozens of companies will be lined to the tune of hundreds of millions at the expense of the Irish tax-payer," she said.
"There has been no debate in the Oireachtas about this scheme, no consultation with the health sector or with the Irish public for that matter and there has been no published rationale for this scheme."
Ms McDonald said the alternative was a healthcare service fully funded by the public purse delivering best value for money.- (PA)