Pharmacists could play a vital role in the Federal Government’s Medicare Local initiative, according to the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.

The PSA is lobbying for pharmacists and other allied health professionals to be included in the government’s health reform agenda, as part of a collaborative health care model.

PSA national president Warwick Plunkett said it was important the Medicare Locals were not GP centric.

"We see it as important for pharmacists and other allied health professionals to contribute," he said.

"We would see the need to get a collaborative care model up and running as part of the central health delivery that would be tailored to the needs of patients in a particular area.

"We believe we are going to be a very important part of that, if we are given that opportunity."

In its budget submission to the government, the PSA has called for a liaison pharmacist program to be developed to help the government deliver some of its health reform objectives, particularly in the area of mental illness.

The call comes as figures show more than half of Australians suffering disorders such as anxiety and depression still go without treatment.

Mr Plunkett said the PSA’s proposal would result in one salaried pharmacist for every Medicare Local to improve cost-effective health services for those with mental illness.

"This very worthwhile program would also ensure there was a point of coordination and communication between the consumer, the primary health-care team, the community mental-health team, including GPs, and hospital-based health professionals," he said.

"This program would reduce preventable medication errors and help to control the personal and health system costs of medication errors."