A select committee has recommended no changes to a Bill that will scrap this year's election for Southern District Health Board members.
The Government is passing a law to extend commissioner Kathy Grant's tenure until 2019 in order to oversee deficit reduction at the board.
The Bill is ready for its second reading in Parliament, and must be passed into law before nominations open for the 2016 local elections.
Some submitters pointed out to the health select committee that the Bill eliminates democratic rights.
However, the committee's report says Mrs Grant would continue to "work closely'' with southern communities, mitigating the loss of democratic input.
"The commissioner places regular updates in local newspapers and on the Southern DHB website.
"She also appears on local television and radio to discuss developments.
"The commissioner has held meetings and forums with a wide range of stakeholders.''
The committee noted Ngai Tahu's request for the appointment of a Ngai Tahu deputy commissioner, but it was not possible to grant that.
Instead, Mrs Grant was urged by the committee to regularly engage Ngai Tahu.
Mrs Grant has three deputy commissioners.
To allay concerns over the lack of public scrutiny, the committee encouraged Mrs Grant and her team to consider how they could work more transparently.
"We recommend that the commissioner set goals and targets, and report on these to the public at the end of each year.''
On the Southern District Health Board website yesterday, no commissioner update nor associated financial/clinical monthly reports had been filed since February, but there were recent press releases.
Dunedin North MP Dr David Clark confirmed to the Otago Daily Times his party was likely to vote with the Government on the Bill's second reading.
The party appears to see the commissioner arrangement as an opportunity to hold Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman accountable for Southern DHB's difficulties.
"The commissioner's responsible to the minister and it's on the minister's head to sort things out.
"This is what he requested as space to achieve his goal and now he needs to deliver on that,'' Dr Clark said.
The health select committee members are: Simon O'Connor (chairman, National), Jacqui Dean (Waitaki MP, National), Kevin Hague (Green Party, Barbara Kuriger (National), Annette King (Labour), Dr Shane Reti (National), Scott Simpson (National), Barbara Stewart (New Zealand First), Poto Williams (Labour).
