Fine Gael has slammed the Government’s new health strategy as a "pathetic pre-election gimmick" and said the document merely outlined how more money would be "poured down the same black hole".
Fine Gael health spokesman Mr Gay Mitchell, said the Government had failed, according to the Department of Health’s own statistics, to reach targets set for 1997.
He said they were now repeating promises made in 1993 that "the main objective will continue to be the elimination of waiting times of over 12 months for adults in the specialties with the largest problems and six months for children in the case of ear, nose and throat and ophthalmology".
The Minister for Health Mr Mícheal Martin announced today that by the end of 2002, no adult would have to wait longer than 12 months and no child longer than six months to obtain treatment following a referral from an out-patients department.
Mr Mitchell said today's document , Quality and Fairness - a Health System for You, which accounts for £10 billion spent over 10 years, based on current prices, was merely a "fig leaf for Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats to hide the scandal of a crumbling health service at a time of economic boom".
The Labour Party said the health strategy represented "an opportunity squandered" by Fianna Fáil to tackle inequality in the health service.
Spokesperson on health Ms Liz McManus said "despite the hype, it is clear the Minister is determined to continue on with a two-tier health service that discriminates against the less well off".
The "one single intention" of the Government’s latest health plan, said Labour, is "to get Fianna Fáil to the other side of the next General Election".