Nicola Sturgeon called on Labour to match the SNP’s commitment to boost the NHS budget across the UK.
The nationalists want to increased funding by £9.5billion, injecting an extra £2billion into the health service north of the border.
The first minister used a campaign visit to Portobello, in Edinburgh, to confirm she will back the STUC’s position that the NHS service must be protected from the impact of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) which could open it up to US companies.
“Our NHS is our most important public resource and the SNP will do everything we can to ensure that it is properly funded and protected as a public service,” Ms Sturgeon said.
“That’s why we’ve been clear that we will vote to boost NHS funding by £9.5billion across the UK, delivering a total increase for Scotland’s NHS of £2billion.
“Ed Miliband and Jim Murphy now need to give the same commitment to properly fund our health service rather than meekly acquiescing to the Tory austerity agenda and selling our NHS short in the process.”
Ms Sturgeon said SNP plans for “modest public spending increases” would provide NHS staff with the support they need so they can continue to deliver a first-class service to patients.
“But increasing funding isn’t the only way a strong team of SNP MPs will ensure our health service is protected,” she added.
“People in Scotland and across the UK are rightly worried about the potential impact on the health service from TTIP. That’s why today I am backing the STUC pledge to protect our NHS from any effects of TTIP.”