The new questionnaire mandates blood collectors to ask about their sexual behavior and whether the gay & bisexual men, sex workers or have multiple sex partners. While a ban on gay men donating blood has existed in India for decades, this is the first time that the new questionnaire spells out these questions. Blood banks in Mumbai recently received the updated format from the National Blood Transfusion Council pertaining to the selection of blood donors . The guidelines suggested that gay & bisexual men, transgenders and female sex workers can never donate blood as they have a higher risk of spreading HIV and Hepatitis B and C.
The ban is also applicable to individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as cancer, organ failure, allergies and respiratory ailments. This new questionnaire was designed on the lines of developed nations. The earlier format superficially asked whether…
