Dr Gibbons has not matched current targets in England

The target includes the wait as an outpatient, for diagnostic tests and for inpatient or day care treatment.

English patients will have a maximum wait of 18 weeks for treatment by 2008.

Welsh health minister Brian Gibbons also announced that by March 2007, people would wait no more than 16 months in total for all treatment.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan said the second offer scheme - where patients are treated in English hospitals - had "shown the way forward" on shortening waiting times.

The current aim of nobody waiting more than a year for a first outpatient appointment and another year for treatment by April 2006 has not been changed.

"The targets we are setting are tough, but ring-fenced money will be set aside to help the NHS in Wales deliver these targets over the next 4 years," said Dr Gibbons.

Dr Gibbons said 6,389 people had taken up the assembly's second offer scheme - where patients waiting longer than the current 18-month target time can take up treatment in England - and it had had a "huge impact"on waits.

"As our maximum waiting times fall the second offer trigger time will also fall ensuring patients get treatment within our targets," he added.

Investment

The announcement was the second in two successive days relating to waiting times.

On Wednesday, Dr Gibbons announced £30m was to be spent on capital projects, with specific investment in ways of bringing down waiting times.

Money is also to be spent on new diagnostics equipment and telemedicine initiatives as well improving hospital buildings.

Capital investment is due to rise from £120m in 2005-6 to £309m in 2007-8.

Health is likely to be a key issue in Wales in the run-up to a general election, with Welsh Labour MPs putting pressure on the assembly government to tackle waiting times.