More than 120 submissions have been received on the single Otago-Southland district health board idea since the formal consultation began early last month.
The submissions close tomorrow.
While the submissions have yet to be analysed, an initial view of them indicates similar numbers have been received from each province and the views contained cover a variety of viewpoints.
Among concerns are representation and the possible effect of a merger on services for Southland, although both boards are already committed to developing shared clinical services.
There has also been support for a merger, with some respondents saying 21 district health boards for the whole of the country was too many.
The submissions will be collated and summarised in a report expected to go before the two boards at their meetings in February.
The board chairmen Errol Millar and Paul Menzies, who earlier attended a series of meetings around the provinces discussing the merger idea, issued a statement yesterday reminding people they had until 5pm tomorrow to submit their views on the issue.
