The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, has welcomed changes soon to be introduced by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) relating to a range of existing deferral policies for blood donation including those that apply to men who have sex with men (MSM).  

The policy changes are to be introduced following a report by an independent advisory group to the IBTS Board. The advisory group was chaired by Professor Mary Horgan.

The changes will be introduced in two phases with the initial phase introduced by the end of March 2022 and the second phase introduced later in 2022.  

The initial phase will reduce the existing 12-month deferral for MSM to 4 months. This is an interim measure while the IBTS introduces new technology, to replace the existing paper health and lifestyle questionnaire (HLQ) with an electronic questionnaire known as the Self-Assessment Health History (SAHH). This will enable phase two, the introduction of an individual assessment process for donors, thus making blood donation more inclusive.  

The deferral of any person who is taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) will also be reduced from 12 months to 4 months and this deferral will remain in place after the introduction of the individual assessment. 

Minister Donnelly said:

I am delighted to welcome this significant move by the IBTS, removing the barriers to blood donation that currently exist for men who have sex with men. 

To be a blood donor is to give a wonderful, life-saving and life-preserving gift to a person in their time of urgent need. I look forward to working with the IBTS to implement and publicise this important step. 

I would like to thank Professor Horgan for her important work.

I would also like to take this opportunity to urge anyone who is eligible to take the time out to donate blood over the festive season. Blood donation is an essential service and is not impacted by the current, necessary public health measures. You can make an appointment by calling 1800 222 111 or 1800 731 137 and find your local clinic on www.giveblood.ie.

Notes :

The Advisory Group’s membership included IBTS Donor Consultants, Infectious Disease Physicians, Public Health Physicians, an Epidemiologist, and the IBTS Risk and Resilience Manager. Stakeholders were represented by participants from the Irish Haemophilia Society, Sickle and Thalassemia Ireland and HIV Ireland. 

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