The Federal Government says Australian women will have better access to a preventative breast cancer drug, now that it is on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

The drug Tamoxifen or Novaldex-D had been used as a breast cancer treatment, until studies revealed that it actually cuts the risk of developing the disease by 30 to 40 per cent.

Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley says access to the drug has now been broadened to include women at a moderate to high risk of breast cancer.

“The drug Tamoxifen will be available on the PBS from today and it's part of a risk reduction strategy in a really important area of cancer,” she said.

“The pharmaceutical company that's developed Tamoxifen has provided additional evidence, additional research to make it available to women who don't have breast cancer but are at high risk of contracting it.”

The Government said the makers of Tamoxifen claim that taking it for five years reduces the risk by 30-40 per cent, even after recipients stop taking it preventatively.

Ms Ley welcomed the inclusion of the first preventative breast cancer treatment on the PBS, saying it would help reduce the impacts of the 16,000 new cases of breast cancer forecast to be diagnosed this year.

“This month is breast cancer awareness month, so I'm making sure we get the message out about screening and treatment,” Ms Ley said.

The latest PBS listings include new drugs for type 2 Diabetes, HIV and psoriasis.