Héma-Québec ends discriminatory blood donation policy for men who have sex with men | 24CA News

Quebec’s blood company has put an finish to its blood donation eligibility evaluation process that discriminates in opposition to homosexual and bisexual males, in addition to others within the LGBTQ2+ neighborhood.

As of Sunday, Héma-Québec lifted its coverage that restricts individuals on this group from donating blood for 3 months after being sexually lively.

From now on, all potential blood donors within the province —  no matter intercourse, gender or sexual orientation — will bear the identical preliminary analysis. The evaluation of threat for sexual behaviour will subsequently be based mostly on an particular person foundation, somewhat than on belonging to a gaggle thought-about to be in danger.

“Previously, what determined eligibility or not, to donate blood, was belonging to a high-risk group […] where the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B or C is higher,” defined Laurent Paul Ménard, spokesperson for Héma-Québec, in an interview with ICI RDI.

“The objective is to maintain the same very high level of safety of blood products, while being more inclusive,” he stated.

The new questionnaire will nonetheless ask questions on being pregnant and sexual behaviours, and people who say they’ve had a brand new sexual companion within the final three months, or have a number of companions, should reply further questions earlier than they will donate blood.

The provincial group stated all donations are examined for potential infections earlier than sending them to hospitals.

Héma-Québec stated the same method has already been in impact within the UK since June 2021, but it surely has not resulted in a substantial improve in blood donations.

Last province in Canada to undertake new coverage

Ménard stated this step marks an necessary social change  — one which took virtually a decade. 

In 2013, Health Canada modified the foundations to permit males to donate blood if they have not had intercourse with a person within the final 5 years.

Previously, males who stated that they had intercourse with a person, even as soon as, since 1977, weren’t eligible to donate blood.

“These evidence-based reductions to the original lifetime restriction have not resulted in any increase in HIV-positive blood donations,” stated Health Canada in September, when it authorised Héma-Québec’s modified screening coverage.

Health Canada authorised Canadian Blood Services’ request again in April to get rid of the three-month deferral interval for males who’ve intercourse with males.

Quebec is the final province in Canada to carry the coverage.