It's being replaced with an individualised risk assessment that would mean anyone who wants to donate blood would be asked questions about their sexual behaviour. The UK recently announced it's scrapping its three month postponement for gay and bisexual men who have had the same sexual partner for more than three months. It's an idea being embraced by other countries around the world. (system supported by DigitalSiber."So that the bar people have to jump is not the gender of their sexual partner but instead the safety of their sexual activity." So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, French, and Spanish versions are automatically generated by the system. "Our approach must be based on science, not on stigma and ancient prejudices," he stressed. "Continuing to discriminate against groups, such as men who have had sex with men in the past 12 months, is not only stigmatizing, but also not a best health practice," he said. One blood donation can save up to three lives. We always need blood and blood donors, ”he said.įranks said one in three Australians will need blood or blood products in their lifetime. “We know that blood doesn't have a long shelf life. Meanwhile, Tammy Franks of the Green Party of South Australia will submit a motion in his state parliament to prioritize changes this week. 'One in three Australians need blood in their life' They did not, however, to comply with the current 12 month abstinence restrictions. The group wanted a "more effective" blood donation policy that focused on "the safety of sexual activity, rather than the sex of the sexual partner.Ī recent study found 78 percent of gay and bisexual Australian men would donate blood if allowed to. Last weekend, the LGBTIQ advocacy group accused Lifeblood of adopting a double standard of completely removing a four-month suspension period for donors with tattoos on scientific grounds, but not for gay and bisexual men. The new policy follows similar reductions in the UK, Canada and the US from 12 months to three months. Previously, they were prohibited from donating blood at all. "Lifeblood wants to make it easier for all Australians to give blood, while ensuring Australian blood and blood products are as safe as possible for blood recipients," the spokesperson said.Īustralia imposed a 12 month suspension period for gay donors in 2000.
#Can gay men donate blood in australia update#
Lifeblood is also working with state and territory governments to update questionnaire forms. The spokesman said Lifeblood was in the process of updating their system. The changes will take effect in early 2021. “TGA, the federal and state governments have all approved our submission. "Earlier this year, Lifeblood made a request to the TGA to reduce the waiting time for donating blood for men who have sex with men from the current 12 months to three months since the last sexual contact," said a spokesman.
A Lifeblood spokesman said the policy changes would take effect early next year. Launching, Wednesday, October 14, in April, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved a proposal to reduce the celibate period (bachelors) to three months. Currently, Lifeblood rejects gay and bisexual donors who have had sex with men in the past 12 months. JAKARTA - The Australian Fed Cross Lifeblood will ease restrictions on gay and bisexual blood donors early next year.