Lifetime ban on gay blood donations set to be axed

HEALTH Minister Simon Harris has accepted recommendations to end the ban on the donation of blood from gay men.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service made the recommendation after reviewing advancements in HIV screening technology, and the actions of other developed countries.

‘I welcome the recommendation of the IBTS following the Government’s request to review the scientific evidence forming the basis for the lifelong ban from donating blood,’ said Mr Harris.

The change in blood donation regulations will allow men who have sex with men to donate blood a year after being sexually active or five years after they have been cleared of a sexually transmitted infection.

Mr Harris has asked the IBTS to continue to ‘engage with my officials on the development of a… plan to support this change in blood donation policy so that the policy… can be well implemented and clearly explained to all potential blood donors, recipients of blood products and the general public.’

There are many countries such as Italy, Portugal and Mexico that have no deferrals and blood can be donated regardless of sexual orientation, while others, such as Germany, France and China, ban donations indefinitely.

This decision comes the day after the 23rd anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland, and two days after the Dublin LGBTQ Pride parade, which was attended by tens of thousands of people.

The lifelong ban was lifted in most of Britain in 2011, while the North’s ban will be lifted this September. The ban was enforced during the AIDS crisis in the 1980s.

In a statement, Mr Harris said: ‘I would like to thank the chair of the IBTS, Professor Anthony Staines, for their work and I have asked that they continue to engage with my officials on the development of a robust implementation plan to support this change in blood donation policy so that the policy change, its rationale and its implications can be well implemented and clearly explained to all potential blood donors, recipients of blood products and the general public.

‘Once this is in place it will be possible to set a date from which this policy change will commence,’ he added.