Health groups have been left scrambling after the federal budget revealed plans to cut nearly $2 billion from the health system, but gave little detail about which programs would be cut.

Fairfax Media understands many of the groups who had travelled to Canberra for the budget announcement were furious about the lack of information provided, with those in the official "lock-up" for hours being given a short summary of the changes rather than the official budget papers.

AMA president Brian Owler: "It was insulting to have the leaders of Australia's health organisations locked in a room with no budget detail." Credit:Andrew Meares

The government has said it will make nearly $1 billion of its savings by "rationalising and streamlining funding across a range of health programmes", primarily through cuts to the Health Portfolio Flexible Funds.