Pharmacists have given the tick of approval to the Federal Government’s health reform agenda, for its focus on keeping people out of hospitals.

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia acting president Grant Kardachi said the proactive-focused agreement reached between the states, territories andCommonwealth was a step in the right direction.

Mr Kardachi said one of the biggest causes of hospitalisations – with a staggering 190,000 admissions a year - was medication misadventures.

"As the medication experts, pharmacists can help consumers with medication issues and compliance concerns, and so help to prevent medication misadventures and help to keep them out of hospital," he said.

The health reform deal includes an extra $16.4 billion in federal funds over the next decade with both the government, states and territories entering into an equal growth funding partnership set to be placed into a national funding pool.

Mr Kardachi said the new health reform agreement would enable pharmacists, who are specialists in providing primary and preventative care, to work in a more structured and coordinated environment.

"Pharmacists are the most accessible health professionals and consumers can walk in and talk to their pharmacist about a wide range of health issues without the need in most cases to make an appointment or wait a long time," he said.

"Pharmacists also provide professional services and counselling on medications and treatment in areas such as obesity, smoking cessation and diabetes – all targets of the greater focus by the government on primary and preventative care in the new agreement."