Despite the pressure of the earthquake, the Canterbury District Health Board's expected to explain its financial shortfall.

The DHB is now under financial review, after recording a $19 million deficit.

The latest documents have revealed the government's questioning the issue directly, and expects an answer.

The Health Minister's quashed fears the stressed board will be replaced by a commissioner, but is pushing for more information.

Dr Jonathan Coleman reports on paper the board has the necessary funding.

"Tens of millions of dollars of extra support has been poured into Canterbury to support what was a very devastating series of events down there," he says.

"But like all DHBs, they've got to make the best possible use of the money they do have available."

But there's growing dissent from health professionals, despite the government's assurances the DHB is safe.

The medical community's calling for the government to support the DHB, not criticise it.

The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Ian Powell argues the government needs to support the DHB.

"Canterbury rates extremely highly in terms of engaging with its hospital's workforce - a tremendous plus that improves the quality of the system," he says.

"That's what the Government should be supporting and applauding, not giving the impression it's threatening."

Medical professionals have highlighted the pressures the board faces.

Powell has said the way they have dealt with acute challenges need to be applauded.

"[The Government] seems to be giving greater priority to the financial pressure the DHB is under," he says.

"That's distinct from the quality of service the DHB, despite extremely difficult circumstances, is continuing to provide."

The government's determined to find out where the DHB's finances have gone wrong.

But Dr Jonathan Coleman contends Canterbury gets a huge amount of funding.

"There's $1.36 billion that goes into that DHB. We've increased by that $254 million over the last seven years," he says.

"But Canterbury are saying they are looking for more money. The idea of a financial review is to help them find it."