That DHBs are "punished" for providing too many operations is a "perversity", the head of the senior doctors' union says.
Ian Powell, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, issued a statement decrying the fact the Southern District Health Board this week vowed not to repeat a 2011-12 overrun of its planned number of elective surgeries.
At a committee meeting on Wednesday, DHB chairman Joe Butterfield said the DHB must not again do too many elective surgery procedures. In 2011-12, the DHB exceeded its plan by 258 discharges, contributing to a $12.7 million deficit.
Mr Powell said DHBs were stuck between "a rock and a hard place" trying to navigate a system of financial penalties and incentives.
"If they succeed, they are financially rewarded, and if they fail [by not delivering enough operations], they risk financial penalties.
"But if they do too many operations, they can get hauled over the coals, especially if they have a financial deficit. It is a fine line between under and so-called over-performance.
"They are expected to perform with the accuracy of an Olympic Games shooter," he said.
