Voters will use the general election to give their verdict on the Government's handling of the health service, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny tonight told his ardfheis.
Hundreds of delegates are attending the two-day event at Dublin's Citywest Hotel, which is the last party conference before the nation goes to the polls.
Mr Kenny will set out his proposals for health, crime and the economy in his televised keynote speech tomorrow night.
But in his opening address, he told supporters: "The general election this year will be a referendum on this Government's handling of the health services and their failure to deliver a health system that works for the public.
"After ten years in power the outgoing Government have failed miserably to meet the targets they set for themselves and have missed countless opportunities to deliver the type of services that the public need and deserve."
Fine Gael has pledged to deliver 2,300 hospital beds within seven years and provide free medical insurance for all children under 16.
Urgent care centres to ease the pressure on A&Es and a rigorous programme to tackle MRSA in our hospitals are also planned. Medical cards will be provided for 100,000 more families, the party said.
A health check-up for all children in the year in they start primary and secondary school is also promised.
Mr Kenny added: "It is completely unacceptable that 1 in 20 Irish patients contract an infection as result of their time in hospital and our MRSA infection rate is out of control: 592 infections last year as opposed to four in Norway, a country with a similar population.
"Fine Gael has unveiled a comprehensive plan to tackle the scourge of MRSA focusing on policies that will result in a dramatic reduction in hospital acquired infections immediately, in the medium term and over the long run."
Fine Gael is fielding a total of 91 general election candidates, 37 of which are running for the first time and 15 of which are female.