Doctors have hit out at a North Queensland trial that would allow pharmacies to diagnose a raft of conditions. 

Chemists in 37 local government areas will be able to diagnose 23 health conditions without consulting a GP.

Asthma, type 2 diabetes, ear infections and heart issues would be among conditions pharmacists could identify and treat.

But the Australian Medical Association of Queensland says the trial shouldn’t be allowed to take place.

President Chris Perry told Neil Breen he thinks it comes down to pharmacists looking for more business.

“They want to get more people into their shops, they want to sell more antibiotics and they want to sell probiotics and macrobiotics and vitamins and painkillers and throat sprays.”

Professor Perry is concerned pharmacists don’t have the training needed to diagnose complicated and often life-threatening issues.

“There’s no end to the expertise they think they’ve got from sitting over a chemist shop counter, pushing boxes of medications to people.

“They really don’t know how much they don’t know!”

Press PLAY below to hear why Professor Perry thinks doctors’ concerns could be overlooked 

The National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia shot down claims that the trial is irresponsible.

“I’m not going to comment on a turf war that I know Queenslanders are sick of hearing about,” Trent Twomey told Sofie Formica.

“A lot of what they said was actually a flat-out lie.”

Mr Twomey said it’s a necessary move for Queenslanders who can’t easily access healthcare.

“This is making sure Queensland catches up to what the rest of the world is doing.”

Press PLAY below to hear the defence of the trial 

Image: Getty