Photo: ODT filesThe Southern District Health Board is unlikely to submit its budget to the Ministry of Health for approval by an early March deadline. With Southern having recorded one of the highest DHB deficits last year, $85.8million, its finances are being closely watched. The SDHB appears before Parliament’s health select committee for its annual review this Wednesday, and its financial performance will be one of the main issues discussed. Jean O’Callaghan, chairwoman of the board’s finance subcommittee, said its financial position was clearly the biggest risk the organisation faced, and there had to be greater focus on mitigating that risk. "It is clear that the Ministry of Health’s and Minister of Health’s expectations are that the financial performance of Southern, and in fact all DHBs, improves in 2020-21.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 09, 2020 15:33 UTC