HILO, Hawai'i — A program designed to ease the Big Island's doctor shortage will likely be delayed after Gov. Linda Lingle's administration decided not to release $1.5 million intended to help launch the program.

State lawmakers appropriated $1.5 million for the 2008 fiscal year to support the University of Hawai'i's plans to expand its residency program onto the Big Island and improve rural primary healthcare. Another $2.5 million was planned for 2009.

But the money is now gone because it wasn't released before the 2008 fiscal year ended June 30, said Dr. Jim Donovan, the program's first faculty member who is based in Hilo.

"Without the legislative money, we don't have a way of being self-sustaining. We come to a grinding halt," Donovan said.

He said the state money was needed to get the program ready to meet requirements needed for accreditation with the American College of Graduate Medical Education, which is responsible for the accreditation of post-medical school training programs in the United States.

The $1.5 million was nearly half the money the program was counting on, he said.

Without it, the residency program won't get started before fall 2010 at the soonest, he said. The program was originally slated to begin fall 2009.

State Director of Finance Georgina K. Kawamura notified UH President David McClain in a June 19 letter the money would not be released.

"The administration will consider releasing $1 million in (fiscal year 2009) for clinical space, faculty and staff costs, and operating expenses at Hilo Medical Center. Due to our fiscal circumstance, a partial release of the total appropriation appears to be a feasible option," Kawamura said.

The state money was needed to get the program ready to meet the accreditation requirements, which will help it become independent of government support in the future, Donovan said.

"The thing that Gov. Lingle's office was most interested in was, 'Will this program be self-sustaining,'" he said. "I believe that the program will be self-sustaining. We have to get accredited. Until we are accredited, we cannot recruit (medical) residents."

A residency is the three years of training doctors must complete after finishing medical school.

Donovan said he believes the university is committed to the program, but it will need support from the local medical community to survive while its startup money is short.

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Information from: Hawaii Tribune-Herald, www.hilohawaiitribune.com