There has not been a doctor at Chiltern since February and the running of the medical centre at the former bush nursing hospital has been put out for expressions of interest by landlord Indigo North Health.

It follows Sydney doctor Nameer Abdullah giving up his three-year lease which was in its last 12 months.

The owner-manager of Barnawartha's Indigo Family Medical Centre, Helen Barter, has lodged a formal expression.

She said since opening on January 20 her patient numbers had reached 820 with 95 per cent estimated to be Chiltern residents.

The expressions of interest close on Friday and Mrs Barter expects competition from capital city medical corporations.

Asked why she should win the lease, Mrs Barter cited the fact she was “home grown” and could provide 24-hour care with after hours visits.

“We could move in the next day, they're desperate for us to be there,” Mrs Barter said.

“They love the doctor, they love Dr Colin Cameron, they've nicknamed him Dr Jellybean because he's got a big jar of jellybeans on his desk.

“The kids love him and the mothers love him.”

Indigo North Health chief executive Shane Kirk said expressions of interest would close midnight Sunday.

Conditions for the successful operator include providing a doctor and utilising locally-based allied health professionals.

They would also be required to be open five days a week.

Mr Kirk said he was pleased with the response to the offer which involves a five-year lease on two consultation rooms and a treatment room.

“There's been more interest than what I anticipated,” Mr Kirk said.

“We've received a couple of expressions of interest at this point in time.”

Mr Kirk said he expected the Indigo North Health board would meet soon after expressions closed and he hoped a doctor would be practising “as soon as possible”.

Mrs Barter said if she took over the Chiltern Medical Centre the hours of operation at Barnawartha were likely to alter.

“We would try and keep it going as a satellite service for a limited amount of hours, but 95 per cent of patients come from Chiltern and the 5 per cent from Barnawartha don't mind travelling,” she said.

“So it doesn't make sense to have two sites, but we'll be guided by our patients on that.”

Dr Abdullah, who also oversees doctors’ practices based at Corowa and Lavington, did not return calls made from The Border Mail this week.