The State should pay hospitals for each patient they treat, and not give each a block grant, to encourage them to treat more people, more efficiently, Fine Gael has declared this morning.
"No longer will hospitals receive a budget for a year, so that when the money runs out, operations cease, regardless of how inefficiently the money's been used," said the party's health spokesman, James Reilly.
"Instead, each hospital will get a maintenance budget. After that, they'll be paid per patient, per procedure, per complexity of procedure - in much the same manner as the Mater Private Hospital or the Blackrock Clinic - but for everyone.
"The patient, the moment they cross the threshold of a hospital will be seen as a resource to be cherished. Not left languishing on a trolley for four days," he told the party's 75th ardfheis.
The current system has allowed cancer sufferers, such as Susie Long to wait for seven months for a colonscopy while others "could have it in weeks privately", and a diabetes sufferer to lose sight in one eye.
"We'll put an end to the horrible ethos of the present system and turn it into a service. Everybody in this country, regardless of class or economic status will be cherished equally," he said.
Consultants would travel to treat groups of patients, rather than the patients travelling to meet them, while follow-up treatment will take place in the community where it is "more convenient, less intimidating and less costly".
The economic and employment crisis is dominating the weekend ardfheis in Dublin, and party leader Enda Kenny will focus on both issues during his televised address at 8.30 this evening.
Mr Kenny told delegates in Citywest last night the party in government would introduce universal health insurance based on the Dutch model.
Dozens of motions to be debated focus on the Government's handling of the public finances and controversial decisions in recent months such as the scheme to withdraw automatic medical cards for over-70s.
Up to 4,000 delegates are expected to attend his televised ardfheis speech tonight.
The party also officially launched its local and European election candidates at its 75th ardfheis. Mr Kenny urged supporters to canvass for votes in each and every one of the 64 days left until the June elections.
Fine Gael is running seven candidates in the European Parliament elections and 733 candidates in the city and county council and town councils battles.
Other delegates' concerns focus on carers, suicide levels, inefficiencies in the public service, unaccountable quangos and national broadband roll-out.
