HIV Risks and Blood DonationsHIV Risks and Blood Donations A recent decree from the Czech Ministry of Health has lifted the ban on blood donations by men who have sex with men (MSM). Previously, MSM were excluded from donating blood if they had engaged in sexual activity within the past six months. This rule was based on concerns about the higher risk of contracting HIV among MSM. However, the new decree takes a more nuanced approach, recognizing that the risk of HIV transmission varies depending on individual factors such as sexual practices and the use of protective measures. As a result, all people who have engaged in risky sexual practices will now be barred from donating blood, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Changes to Blood Donation Criteria Under the new decree, individuals who have engaged in the following activities within the past four months will be ineligible to donate blood: * Anal sex with a new or multiple sexual partners * Sex in exchange for money or drugs Safety of Blood Recipients The Ministry of Health emphasizes that these changes were made in collaboration with the Society for Transfusion Medicine and are based on internationally accepted recommendations. The safety of blood recipients remains paramount, and the new criteria are intended to minimize the risk of HIV transmission through blood transfusions. Additional Donor Screening In addition to the new criteria, blood donors will still be required to fill out a questionnaire before donating blood. This questionnaire will screen for any conditions that may temporarily or permanently prevent blood donation, such as: * Illnesses (e.g., hepatitis, tuberculosis) * Chronic conditions (e.g., high blood pressure, heart attack) * Travel to certain high-risk countries * Tattoos or attached ticks Importance of Blood Donation Despite these precautions, the Czech Red Cross reports that only around 220,000 people donate blood in the Czech Republic each year. However, at least 300,000 regular donors are needed to adequately supply hospitals with blood. The need for blood donations is constant, as it is used for a variety of medical treatments and procedures, including blood transfusions, immune disorders, and blood clotting disorders.
A new decree from the Czech Ministry of Health has lifted the ban on blood donations by homosexual men. As of July 1, all people who have engaged in risky sexual practices will be barred from donating blood, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
This also includes people who have had anal sex with a new sexual partner or multiple partners in the past four months, or have had sex in exchange for money or drugs.
The ministry said on its website that these changes were drawn up in collaboration with the Society for Transfusion Medicine and are based on internationally accepted recommendations.
Although donors’ blood is tested for HIV, men who have sex with men (MSMs) have so far been excluded from donating blood if they have had sex in the past six months. Until 2019, this rule applied to the previous 12 months. Minority rights initiatives have long seen this as discriminatory. The ministry previously defended the measure on the grounds that sex between men carries a higher risk of contracting HIV.
Blood donors must still fill out a questionnaire before donating blood, in which they indicate any problems that temporarily or permanently prevent them from donating blood. These include illnesses such as hepatitis or tuberculosis, chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure or a recent heart attack.
“Reasons for exclusion include travel to certain high-risk countries, tattoos or an attached tick,” the ministry said, adding that the safety of recipients of donated blood would therefore still be guaranteed.
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According to the Czech Red Cross, around 220,000 people donate blood in the Czech Republic, with around 30,000 new donations per year. According to experts, at least 300,000 regular donors would be needed to adequately supply hospitals with blood, and around 5,000 new donors per year would be needed to compensate for the decline in the number of donors due to age or illness.
Donor blood is used for blood transfusions or to prepare special treatments or medicines. For example, blood plasma helps patients with immune or blood clotting disorders, and blood transfusions are given to people during operations or bleeding in the digestive tract, during childbirth or to treat neonatal jaundice. The blood collection takes about ten minutes and about 450 milliliters are taken. Donation is not paid, but donors are entitled to days off on the day of donation and other bonuses are also offered by health insurance companies.
