Thousands of Australians with advanced melanoma will soon be able to access more treatments on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says access to the PBS-listed Opdivo (nivolumab) will be expanded, meaning more patients will avoid what would otherwise be a cost of about $100,000 per course of treatment.

“Opdivo is a breakthrough immunotherapy which works by blocking proteins and helping the body's own immune system to find, attack and destroy cancer cells,” Mr Hunt said in a statement on Sunday.

Having an affordable treatment on the PBS should help patients treat melanoma earlier “rather than watching and waiting for the cancer to possibly return”, he said.

Access to Yervoy (nivolumab and ipilimumab) has also been expanded on the PBS, so that it can be used as a first-line therapy in the treatment of metastatic melanoma.

This should assist hundreds of patients who would otherwise also be paying $100,000 per course of treatment.

“These significant expansions will provide melanoma patients with a new breakthrough form of treatment, with less side effects and a greater chance of recovery,” Mr Hunt said.

“Australia has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world - 11 times higher than the worldwide average. Tragically, one Australia will die every five hours from melanoma.”