The Southern District Health Board is trying to claim almost $200,000 from the Southern Primary Health Organisation as promised savings did not materialise because of a delay forming the new super PHO.
The PHO, which started last Friday, will save about $1 million a year through combining nine Otago and Southland PHOs.
One PHO, Mornington, is yet to join but will do so at the end of the year.
Southern PHO chairman Dr Conway Powell said the lower-than-expected savings were due to the three-month delay forming the new body, which had been set to start on July 1.
The delay was caused by the transition authority proceeding with caution and consideration in merging a large number of organisations, he said.
Dr Powell said he understood why the DHB wanted to recover the money, especially given its multimillion-dollar deficit.
