Sexual orientation should not be a factor in blood donations – if it is safe in the UK, it is safe in Ireland
RULES changes in the blood donation criteria for gay and bisexual men in Northern Ireland came into effect last month.
Men who have been in a same-sex relationship with one partner for more than three months are now able to donate - increasing the number of eligible blood donors.
However, that is not the case in the Republic. Gay and bisexual men must abstain from any sexual contact for a minimum of 12 months before meeting the criteria for donating blood - despite a severe shortage in supply.
Earlier this year the Irish Blood Transfusion Service announced it was importing a bulk consignment of blood from the UK for the first time since the late 1990s.
And equality campaigners hit out at the IBTS for opting to import blood from Britain without addressing the donation restrictions on Irish gay and bisexual men.
Here, Fianna Fail Senator FIONA O’LOUGHLIN explains why the need for greater equality in the blood donation criteria is essential and calls for the deferral policy to be addressed.
DONATION CRITERIA
Currently in Ireland, gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men (MSM) must abstain from any sexual contact for a minimum of 12 months before meeting the criteria for donating blood.
This abstention policy, known as the one-year deferral policy, applies regardless of the use of condoms and/or PrEP, a free medication taken by HIV negative men to reduce the chance of getting HIV.
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The same criteria of abstaining from any sexual contact for a year does not apply to heterosexual blood donors.
It is important to note that according to the best available scientific evidence and advances in testing technology, the current one-year deferral period imposed on gay and bi-sexual men exceeds what is required to maintain the safety of the blood supply.
UK CHANGES
On June 1 2020, the one-year deferral policy for MSM in Northern Ireland reduced to three months, bringing it in line with the rest of the UK, which has operated a three-month deferral since 2017.
In the UK anyone who has had the same sexual partner for the last three months is eligible to donate.
This three-month deferral period applies to all blood donors, regardless of their sexual orientation.
This allows gay and bi-sexual men to donate blood under the same criteria as other groups in society and ended the unjust segregation of the LGBTQI+ community in the UK.
IRELAND'S INEQUALITY
To date, in Ireland we continue to exercise blatant inequality, despite the urgent need for blood donations.
In June of this year, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service imported a large consignment of blood from the UK for the first time since the 1990’s, meaning that gay and bisexual men in the UK can donate blood to Irish citizens, but Irish men can’t.
It is not acceptable that we are discriminating against one section of society in Ireland, and time accepting blood from that same community in the UK.
After much lobbying of my government colleagues, the Department of Health announced the establishment of a blood donation criteria review group.
This was most welcome, and I believe is the first step in achieving equality in terms of blood donation criteria for gay and bi-sexual men.
NOT A FACTOR
A person’s sexual orientation should not be a factor in their ability to give blood.
Each individual donor should be assessed for their individual risk, regardless of their sexual orientation.
I will continue to advocate for an equal criteria in terms of blood donation. A criteria that does not discriminate against individuals based solely on their sexual orientation.
I am calling on my government colleagues to expedite the establishment of the review board, with a view to adopting an individual risk assessment in terms of blood donation for gay and bi-sexual men.
BLOOD SHORTAGE
This was never more crucial than it is today.
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service has called for new donors to address a further blood shortage as a result of the pandemic.
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The obvious solution is to widen the net of eligible donors and to allow everyone to donate blood regardless of their sexual orientation.
If it is safe for a gay or bi-sexual man in the UK to donate blood to Irish citizens, then it is safe for an Irish man to donate blood in Ireland.