Nicola Sturgeon's tipped replacement was criticised during First Minister's Questions after a damning report revealed huge NHS waiting times.
Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf was ripped apart by Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party Douglas Ross who claimed he was "not even up to his current job".
Speaking to the Scottish Parliament, Ross said Scotland's NHS has fallen further into crisis and cited the case of a patient who waited 60 hours to be treated in A&E.
Ross added: "Doesn't this confirm that Humza Yousaf isn't even up to the job he has at the moment?"
Humza Yousaf faced criticism over huge NHS waiting times
Andrew Milligan
Sturgeon responding saying that Yousaf is the "only health secretary anywhere in the UK that has managed to avoid a single day of strikes" in the NHS.
"Despite the very difficult challenges within the NHS, Scotland's Accident and Emergency department remain the best performing anywhere in the UK," The First Minister added.
Ross hit back saying: "Shameful. Shameful is the only way you could describe that answer from the first minister."
A report by Audit Scotland warned that Scotland’s key NHS recruitment targets are “unlikely to be met” as it urged ministers to be transparent about the Covid-19 recovery plan.
Yousaf’s NHS recovery strategy was given a “damning verdict” by political critics, and Audit Scotland’s report said it lacks “detailed actions” to allow progress to be accurately measured.
His plans include ambitious recruitment targets, such as hiring 800 new GPs by 2027, but the report said that aim is “not on track” and poses a “risk” to the recovery of primary care.
The watchdog said the GP workforce increased by just 113 between 2017 and 2022.
The Scottish Health Secretary is running against Scottish Finance Secretary Kate Forbes and former community safety minister Ash Regan to be the next SNP leader and first minister.
Nicola Sturgeon defended her Health Secretary over claims he was 'not up to his job'
Andrew Milligan
The Scottish Parliament returned for FMQs for the first time since Sturgeon announced her resignation last week.
Scotland’s auditor general Stephen Boyle said: “NHS staff remain under severe pressure and the Scottish Government is facing tough choices.
“Money is tight but investment is needed in recovery. That means ministers have to prioritise which NHS aims can realistically be delivered. And they need to be more transparent about the progress they’re making.
“The Scottish Government has set out big challenges facing the NHS. But it also needs to clearly explain to the public what those challenges mean for the level of service they can expect, including waiting times.”
