Specialists say the Budget falls $160 million short when it comes to funding for District Health Boards.

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Ian Powell told Nadine Higgins it continues a pattern of under-funding that began in 2010.

He said there are serious shortages of hospital specialists and says their health is suffering.

"We have a 50 percent burnout rate - that's continued sustained to fatigue of our hospital specialists. They're carrying the burden of this."

LISTEN ABOVE AS IAN POWELL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SALARIED MEDICAL SPECIALISTS, TALKS TO NADINE HIGGINS