The Scottish Government has been accused of telling lies over the future of the NHS to scare people into voting for independence.
Furious Labour and Conservative MSPs hit out after Health Secretary Alex Neil claimed a privatisation agenda south of the border would lead to healthcare funding cuts in Scotland.
The government has argued a reduction in public spending on healthcare in England would mean funding in Scotland would be slashed through Barnett consequentials.
SNP ministers want the principle of a free NHS to be enshrined in the written constitution of an independent Scotland.
Mr Neil said: “A ‘no’ vote is a very different and disturbing prospect for our national health service and wider public services.
“Under the current arrangements, every £10 that is cut from health spending in England through austerity, privatisation and patient charges will consequently reduce Scotland’s budget by around £1.
“Privatisation that leads to further patient charges, enabled by the Health and Social Care Act 2012 in England, means that services that were previously free will have to be paid for by patients.
“The replacement of public funding with private money will have a consequential impact on Scotland’s budget.”
Opposition MSPs have pointed out that health is devolved to the Scottish Parliament and that the NHS was being misused by the SNP administration to win over voters.
Labour health spokesman Neil Findlay said: “The SNP are lying about the NHS and they know it.
“They have no bottom line and are happy to lie and scare the sick and the vulnerable to try and revive their faltering campaign.
“It is the most disgusting thing I have seen in politics.”
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Jackson Carlaw said the health minister had been unable to identify any cut in overall health spending or any minister who has ever suggested making one.
“The statements the government makes on the issue are utterly inaccurate, and designed to frighten people irrationally towards a Yes vote,” he added.
“The SNP clearly views the NHS as a last throw of the dice as its support fades, but the people of Scotland won’t be fooled by its outright lies.”