Hma-Qubec proposes rule changes on blood donations from gay men

Hma-Qubec andCanadian Blood Services hope to eliminate some of thebarriersgay men face when it comes to donatingblood.

CBC French-language service, Radio-Canada, has learned those agencies are jointly proposingthat Health Canada change the rule on blood donation by gay men to allow them todonate 12 months after their last sexual contact with another man.

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In 2013, Health Canada changed the rules to allowmen to donate blood ifthey haven't had sex with a man in the last five years.

Previously, men who said they had sex with a man, even once, since 1977, were not eligible to donate blood.

In line with other countries

The proposed one-year restriction is in line with a U.S. Food and Drug Administration ruling in December,which the FDA saidwas based on an examination of the latest science showingthat aban of more than one yearis not necessary to prevent transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

The one-year abstinence rule also falls in line with blood-donation policy inthe United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand which also have 12-month deferment periods.

"It's a time period of security to allow for providers to intervene if there is a pathogen that emerges," Laurent-Paul Mnard, a spokesperson for Hma-Qubec, told Radio-Canada.

The proposal is expected tobe submitted to Health Canada in the coming weeks.

However, some groups, such asGris Mauricie-Centre-du-Qubec,are saying that while it is a step in the right direction,the ban on blood donations from sexually active gay menshould be lifted entirely.

"It's still discriminatory, in my eyes," saidRichard Senneville, president ofGris Mauricie-Centre-du-Qubec. "The majority of homosexual men aren't reckless in their sexual behaviour."