A multimillion-pound pay scheme for top doctors is to be frozen in a drive to curb public spending.
The Distinction Awards for leading consultants cost the taxpayer about £28million last year.
But plans to raise this by £2million in next year's Budget are set to be blocked by MSPs at Holyrood.
Nationalist MSP Ian McKee, who is a former doctor, today branded the awards "unacceptable" and wants to see all high earners in the public sector take a pay cut of 5%.
He said: "We are constantly talking about bankers and their fat bonuses but we forget that in the public sector we have a scheme that dishes out awards of up to £75,889 to the highest paid workers of the health service. It is utterly unacceptable.
"A scheme which in Scotland alone distributes £28million to around 500 health workers earning six figure salaries is extremely offensive and unfair.
"This is all going on while thousands of people are out of work."
About half of consultants now retire in receipt of the awards which can top £75,000.
Dr McKee is a member of Hollyrood’s health and sport committee which is recommending that the awards be capped at £28 million in next year’s Budget.
It comes after Scottish Government evidence submitted to the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body (DDRB) said there should be no increase in 2010-11 to reflect the "difficult financial situation for public finances in general".
Dr McKee believes that the best paid workers in the public sector should take a pay cut - and would be prepared to do so himself.
He added: "All high earners in the public service should accept a pay cut of 5%."
But he warned that the system of Distinction Awards should not be scrapped altogether.
He added: "If this was to happen many young Scottish doctors would potentially move south of the border.
"What I'm suggesting is to cap the money going into the scheme - even if the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body recommends otherwise.
"It's time we sent out a signal that we are no longer prepared to go along with their importunate demands."
