Fine Gael in Government will provide a health service which would be the envy of Europe, the party's health spokesman Mr Gay Mitchell pledged.
"I am giving this as a promise and a commitment," he told ardfheis delegates.
"Fine Gael in Government will provide an imaginative, costed, reform package which will work and will be our priority." The Government had presided over a system of apartheid when it came to providing health services, he said.
Cork TD Mr Bernard Allen said there was a situation where the wealthy have quick access to the health services while those less fortunate have to wait in line.
Ms Catherine Byrne, general election candidate in Dublin South Central, said she had personally experienced the cramped condition in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin.
"Yet the Taoiseach is happier pouring money into a gigantic sports stadium and into a ship that will never leave port." Mr Mitchell said that between them the current Minister for Health, Mr Martin, and his predecessor, Mr Cowen, had set up over 60 task forces and expert implementation bodies.
"After five years and €30 billion of expenditure the Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrat Government achievement was to have 26,300 people on waiting lists for treatment and thousands more waiting to get on the waiting lists."
He declared his distrust of Mr Martin's "bedside manner". "I'm very sorry, I don't buy this bedside manner; the arched eyebrows, and sympathy. When I was growing up I was told handsome is as handsome does."
He said those deserving them were denied access to medical cards; there were delays of over eight years in some areas before receiving orthodontic treatment; the childhood vaccination programme was in chaos; Ireland had among the highest rates of death in the EU but still no nationwide breast screening programme.
Fine Gael in Government, said Mr Mitchell, would introduce the most comprehensive reform of the health services since 1940 when the Department of Health was set up.
The party would:
- Introduce a free GP service targeted at those most in need;
- Asthma would be added to the long-term illness scheme;
- An insurance-based scheme for all to ensure access for all to necessary hospital care;
-- Introduce a system of citizen-based hospital boards and make hospital managements tender every seven years for the contract to run the hospital facility;
- Create an office of Surgeon General to work directly for the Oireachtas in securing greater accountability;
- Introduce a covenant of rights and responsibilities for patients to be overseen by a health ombudsman;
- Invest in an enhanced primary care system.
- Ensure access to primary care through the provision of medical cards to those in need.