A groundbreaking new drug tipped to stop the spread of HIV within just a few years will be available to more than 2,000 Queensland men under a $6 million trial program.

The trials make Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) available to men who have sex with men, as a means of preventing HIV transmission.

Queensland Aids Council (QuAC) has labelled Health Minister Cameron Dick's announcement as a "brave" step towards normalising the use of PrEP as a preventative tool and reducing engrained fears within the LGBTI community.

PrEP — manufactured by Gilead and marketed as Truvada — is not licensed in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and is therefore not available at a subsidised price through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), but many gay men are resorting to importing the drug from overseas.

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International clinical trials have proven that when taken once a day, PrEP can reduce the risk of infection by up to 90 per cent.

Mr Dick said the trial would initially be offered to people in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.

Pressure had been mounting on the Queensland Government to expand its trial previously offered to just 50 men, after the New South Wales Government upped their program to include 3,700 men and Victoria offered 2,600 men the daily dosage pill.

Cameron Dick says the Federal Government needs to step up to ensure PrEP is widely available. ( Supplied: Peter Black )

Mr Dick said the program was expanded after a successful response to the smaller trial.

"I am pleased we can now extend this project to offer more people at high risk of HIV another prevention option," Mr Dick said.

"The Palaszczuk Government is stepping up to the mark, but it is crucial that the Federal Government plays its part in HIV prevention by ensuring a PBS listing for this valuable medication.

"The best way for PrEP to become widely available and accessible to those who need it, is through its approval by the TGA and listing on the PBS."

'The fear of HIV is crippling for our community'

QuAC executive director Michael Scott said the trials were a courageous move by the Queensland Government and the drug would change lives.

He said the trial would be offered to all Queensland men, not just those living in major cities.

"This is a brave decision made today," Mr Scott said.

"We're talking about sexual health for gay men, which often has the potential to be controversial, but the reality is, it's a smart decision by any state government to invest in the sexual health of its people.

"PrEP is a game changer… we know it works and prevents the HIV transmission for people who do not use a condom every time.

"PrEP is just another preventative tool and we hope one day it will be normalised, just as the pill is for women.

"We're not just talking about stopping the transmission of HIV, but there are also mental health benefits that come along with PrEP, allowing gay men to have sex without fear of HIV because that fear is crippling within our community and has been for 30 years."

Mr Scott said in less than 12 hours, more than 50 people had registered interest in the trials. He expected the places would fill quickly.

Clinic 30, the sexual and mental health service at QuAC is already providing opportunities for gay men and men who have sex with men to import PrEP from overseas.

To date, the clinic has written scripts for more than 200 men to import generic medication, however the costs associated with importation are prohibitive for some people.