A £290 million funding gap for GP surgeries has been criticised by Galloway and West Dumfries MSP Finlay Carson.
He spoke out after The British Medical Association (BMA) Scotland expressed fears the shortfall will threaten the future of the NHS.
And GPs have warned the situation is so dire they cannot afford to hire more staff despite increasing demand.
Backing them, Mr Carson said: “It is quite clear that SNP ministers must finally heed this stark warning from the BMA and properly invest in GP services – and not cut them.
“As far as I am concerned, it is totally absurd that at a time when patients cannot get appointments because GPs are completely overwhelmed and practices can’t take on more staff to cope.
“The NHS crisis was one of the main talking points when I carried out a number of doorstep surgeries in Stranraer recently. Nearly everyone was complaining that they struggled to get GP appointments, now the Scottish Government plans to make it even harder.”
The Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP fears the situation will worsen despite the fact many unemployed GPs are desperate to work.
He added: “The SNP’s steady eroding of funding to GPs is dangerous and illogical because it can prevent the early detection of illnesses, like cancer, as well as placing additional pressures on A&E departments when patients have no place to turn too.
The Scottish Government has claimed it has increased investment in general practices and employed more GPs.
But research by BMA Scotland suggests otherwise, insisting there is now a £290 million shortfall.
Dr Iain Morrison, chair of the BMA Scotland, said: “Practices simply do not have the resources required to employ all the staff they need – and in particular GPs – at a time when demand is going up at a rapid rate.
“We know that access to GPs is undeniably a real issue and patients can struggle to get an appointment at their surgery in a timely manner. We share the frustration that many patients are currently feeling and we want to be able to deliver a service we are proud of, rather than constantly apologising for.”
