The period of abstinence necessary for blood donation for gay men, from 12 months currently, will be reduced to 4 months from February 1, 2020, the Ministry of Solidarity and Health announced in a press release on Wednesday, July 17. The amendment had been voted last October by the deputies, and constitutes a “first stage” towards an alignment of the donation conditions of homosexuals with those of heterosexuals, envisaged in “the horizon 2022”.
A gradual opening
Since 1983 and before 2016, this category of “men who have sex with men (MSM)” was excluded from blood collection, due to the risk of transmission of the disease. AIDS virus by blood transfusion. a arrested then allowed its opening, on condition of showing one year of abstention. Today, a heterosexual man must not have had more than one sexual partner in the past 4 months to be able to donate.
The Ministry of Health therefore assures that this is a first step pending the total relaxation of rights by 2022. But this, after a risk assessment is made “it’s clear”, in order to preserve the safety of recipients.
No increased risk
Last November, a study by Public Health France showed that the risk of HIV transmission has not increased since this opening of the gift to homosexuals. The investigation had estimated that the risk was “extremely weak” (one HIV positive undetected in 5.2 million), and even recommended a relaxation of the rules.
In addition, theComplidon survey carried out with 110,000 donors showed that “the criteria for access to blood donation were overwhelmingly respected, but it could happen in rare situations that they are not, when they are not understood or accepted”, indicates the press release of the ministry.
Each year, 170,000 new donors are needed to maintain a sufficient level of 10,000 blood donations per day. The French Blood Establishment regularly launches national appeals, to invite people in capacity to go massively to the collection points and replenish the reserves.
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