In the context of the bioethics law, the selection criteria for blood donors have been modified, allowing homosexual men to donate blood without a period of abstinence.
The Ministry of Health had announced it on January 11th, and it has now come into effect: blood donation is open to homosexual men without any conditions. This decision thus puts an end to all discrimination related to sexual orientation.
Starting this Wednesday, March 16th, the preliminary questionnaire for blood donation is being modified. From now on, the option “man having a sexual relationship with another man” no longer exists, as well as the question “have you had a sexual relationship with a male partner in the last 4 months?” Only practices involving risks (drug use or sexual intercourse with multiple partners during the last 4 months) are considered in the questionnaire.
In 2016, a first step was taken when blood donation was opened to homosexual men, who had previously been prohibited from donating blood since 1983 due to the perceived higher risk of AIDS transmission among homosexual men. A twelve-month abstinence period had to be respected, which was then reduced to four months in 2019.
