The accusation came from Mornington Primary Health Organisation chief executive Barbara Bridger, who addressed the board community public health advisory committee meeting.
She said later the PHO group was seeking about $250,000 to fund ongoing chronic disease management programmes.
She repeated concerns aired earlier this year that it would not be able to continue funding several services out of reserves including its Maori/Pacific Island outreach nursing service, its cardiovascular risk assessment and diabetes prevention programmes.
Outgoing regional planning and funding general manager Chris Fraser said if doctors at the sole practice of the PHO, Mornington Health Centre, chose to charge pa-tients a lower rate, which was laudable, then it was harder for the PHO to continue its programmes.
It was time the artificial barriers between PHOs and practices were broken down and the two groups got together for the benefit of the population.
"The choice is in your hands."
After the meeting, Ms Bridger said the health centre would have to increase its charges "a hell of a lot more" than the $2 it is planning to coverprogrammes.
PHO trustee Dr Tony Fitchett said any suggestion that future funding of previously PHO-funded services should be coming out of Mornington Health Centre doctors' income meant GPs would be providing an extra social security service above the taxes they paid.
Ms Bridger also drew attention to chronic disease management funding by other district health boards including Nelson/Marlborough and Mid Central.
Otago District Health Board chief executive Brian Rousseau said the Otago board had spent more money in other services than some other boards.
It did more elective surgery than some other areas and paid a high proportion of its budget on medicines.
To change that would mean cuts in existing services.
It was a matter of priority and the board had limited discretion.
Board member Louise Rosson said she had heard this for nine years.
It seemed to her the board was almost rewarded for having more people go to hospital.
Dr Fitchett said the amount of money the PHO sought was minuscule.
