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The majority of NHS Scotland staff will receive a 3% pay rise this year, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.
She told the SNP conference that staff currently earning up to £80,000 will receive at least a 3% increase.
And she pledged that the "immediate" pay rise "will be in their pay packets next month".
She said the move meant the vast majority of frontline NHS Scotland staff will be paid more than in NHS England.
Ms Sturgeon also contrasted the "shambolic" UK government with her party's achievements at Holyrood.
She repeated her call for immigration policy to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
And she announced 750 new or refurbished nurseries to help deliver an increase in free pre-school provision, and more funding for students who have been in car.
But she gave no details of when a second Scottish independence referendum could be held.
Ms Sturgeon was speaking as the two-day conference in Aberdeen drew to a close.
How will the NHS pay rise work?
Ms Sturgeon told delegates that the past few years of pay restraint had been "tough" on NHS staff and other public service workers.
She added: "We're currently in negotiations to agree a three year pay deal for NHS staff in which we aim to not just match but exceed the deal agreed in England. I hope these talks reach a positive conclusion soon.
"But I don't want those working so hard in the NHS to have to wait for that agreement to get a pay rise this year. So I can announce today that we will make a payment on account as negotiations continue."
Staff currently earning up to £80,000 will receive at least a 3% uplift, and those earning £80,000 and over will receive a flat rate increase of £1,600.
Staff not at the top of their pay bands will also receive any incremental progression they are due.
The announcement will benefit 147,000 Agenda for Change staff, such as nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, therapists, paramedics, support staff and administrators.
It does not affect doctors, dentists or senior managers.
What else did Ms Sturgeon say?
In her speech, the first minister claimed that the "shambolic Westminster Tory government is holding Scotland back, while the Scottish government is moving Scotland forwards".
And she highlighted the "disastrous" impact she believes the UK government's "hostile migration policy" is having on Scotland's public services and economy.
Ms Sturgeon added: "Scotland is a welcoming country - our prosperity and our public services depend on it.
"If Westminster cannot or will not act in our best interests, it is time that our own parliament was able to do so. It's time for powers over migration to come to Scotland."