Authorities say Tasmanian healthcare will become a laughing stock if the interim chief executive of the new Tasmanian Health Service (THS) keeps her role.

Dr Beverly Anne Brand took up the stand-in job this week, but her history of alternative, spiritual, and pseudo-scientific healing techniques has been strongly criticised.

While she has a long history in health administration - working as the deputy secretary of Tasmania's Hospital and Ambulance Service between 2001 and 2006 - she also runs a clinic called “Health Mind Body Change from the Inside” in NSW.

The ‘alternative’ health clinic offers “reiki, crystals, sound, colour, theta healing and aura-soma”, among other dubious treatments.

Her LinkedIn profile refers to work as an “energy healer”, “transformational life coach” and “search consultant”.

On her website, Dr Brand claims:

“Whilst doctors treat patients with medicines and surgery; energetic healers use a range of gentle, non-invasive treatments from western and century-old eastern practices.

“Treatments are combined in a unique way to suit your specific needs at that time: they work on your body, mind, emotions and spirit.

“An energetic healer finds the imbalances and works with you to rebalance the flow of energy.”

Australian Medical Association spokesperson Dr Tim Greenaway said having Dr Brand leading the THS, even on an interim basis, “makes us a laughing stock”.

“We have an interim CEO of the THS who believes in non-evidence-based practice,” he claimed.

“We do not believe the position is tenable... I'm not commenting on her capacity as a health administrator, but the problem is the perception and the perception is a poor one,” Dr Greenaway said.

The Health Minister Michael Ferguson dismissed Dr Greenaway's concerns in a statement to media outlets.

Mr Ferguson said Dr Brand had a “highly successful record as a health administrator”.

“Dr Brand's co-ownership of an alternative therapy business is not a secret, nor is it in any way relevant to her abilities as a health administrator,” Mr Ferguson said.

“Given Dr Brand's impressive record of health administration, I of course have full confidence in Dr Brand, and I am mystified as to why Dr Greenaway raised this in media when at no time has he spoken to me about it.

“For the novelty value of this interest in alternative therapies to be used as a serious criticism of an experienced health administrator is very disappointing indeed.”