Dutch blood bank wants equal rules for donation of gay people

Only your behaviour counts, the blood bank writes in a press release on its website. Therefore, the blood bank will ask potential donors about their sexual behaviour with a risk of infections that can be transferred via their blood, Ivo van Schaik says. He is the CEO of the association of Sanquin. “That behaviour determines whether you are allowed to donate, not whom you have had sex with”, he explains.

Abstinence

Currently, men who have sex with men may only donate if they have been in a monogamous relationship for at least a year or have lived in abstinence for at least four months. These rules do not apply to heterosexual people.

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Sanquin now wants to erase this difference in regulations. Therefore, the blood bank presented a proposal to the Dutch health minister, Ernst Kuipers. It says that it is based on scientific research that provides concrete suggestions on implementing this change in rules.

Permission

Kuipers writes in a letter to the Dutch Lower House that the message is good news. He finds it essential that the change in legislation is implemented next January at the latest.

Sanquin agrees with that but says that the change will take some time, as the blood bank is dependent on the European Medicines Agency (EMA). It has to wait for the permission of the EMA before it can change the rules.

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At the same time, Sanquin itself will have to change some of its processes and systems. In addition, blood bank employees will need to follow additional training.

The Dutch Association of Haemophilic Patients (NVHP) says to be in favour of a more liberal policy but remains a bit concerned about the safety of the change in rules. Therefore, the supervisory body pleads for an independent inspector that keeps an eye on the safety of blood donation.

Discriminatory

Before 2015, gay people were not allowed to donate blood because they have a higher risk of getting infections, such as HIV. This rule was seen as discriminatory. Therefore, it was changed in 2015 so that gay men could donate blood if they had a sustainable monogamous relationship or when they had not been sexually active for at least four months.