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Malta’s Gay Blood Sex Abstention Rule Guided By Global Medical Standards, New Equality Minister Insists

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Malta’s new Equality Minister Edward Zammit Lewis has played down concerns by the LGBT+ lobby over the news that gay men will only be able to donate blood if they’ve been sexually abstinent for a year.

“This process was guided by international medical standards and considerations which are in place for blood donation procedures and which are strictly bound to the health and safety of patients,” a spokesperson for Zammit Lewis told Lovin Malta. “The Ministry will continue to engage with all stakeholders to eliminate all inequalities. Equality for all is imperative.”

The blood donation unit recently acquired equipment which makes use of nucleic acid testing, adding another layer of safety to the screening of donated blood to reduce the risk of transfusion transmitted infections, such as HIV.

It will therefore lift its blanket ban on blood donations for men who have sex with men, but only if they’ve been sexually abstinent for a year. According to Zammit Lewis, the lifting of the blanket ban “marks an important step forward in Malta’s strive towards equality for all and redress of social stigma”.

The situation varies across the world. Several countries, such as Australia, Sweden and Japan, have also introduced a one-year gap between gay sex and blood donation.

However, the likes of the United Kingdom and Canada only have a three-month gap while France is set to reduce its one-year gap to four months.

The Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) yesterday denounced the one-year deferral period as “discriminatory”.

The prohibition on blood donation by men who have sex with men (MSM) has for several years been no longer justified given the effectiveness of modern testing methods, and it does nothing but put an unreasonable stigma on MSM, raising the question of whether there is a personal bias against MSM and gay men, rather than a scientific one,” it said.

“It is especially discriminatory to exclude those in a monogamous relationship, regardless of their sexuality, from being able to participate in the noble act of donating blood, potentially saving lives.”

Former PL MEP candidate Cyrus Engerer said the deferral period means the current blanket ban on gay blood donors will keep being enforced in practice. 

“The sad truth is that the majority of gay men and trans people I know get tested at the GU clinic (which is in a bad state) or private clinics in Malta at least every three months for STDs, but barely know any straight people who ever got tested, let alone get tested regularly,” he said.

The national blood transfusion unit recently launched an urgent appeal for blood donors.

https://www.facebook.com/bloodmalta/photos/a.121903634646466/1283626545140830/?type=3&theater

“For the health system to be at its best, we require large reserves of blood,” it said. “One must keep in mind that blood isn’t sold but is donated by altruistic people. Please spread the word for the benefit of patients who are waiting to benefit from our health system, including people with chronic illnesses such as cancer and people who are going to undergo operations.”

READ NEXT: EXCLUSIVE: Malta’s GU Clinic To Double In Staff By September, Health Minister Pledges

Tim is interested in the rapid evolution of human society and is passionate about justice, human rights and cutting-edge political debates. You can follow him on Instagram or Twitter/X at @timdiacono or reach out to him at [email protected]

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