Homosexuals cannot donate blood to the National Blood Service - Health Ministry

Homosexuals cannot donate blood to the National Blood Service even if they have only one partner and practice safe sex.

This has been clarified by the Health Ministry as it says that homosexuals are seen as high risk donors.

Fijivillage raised this issue with the Health Ministry and the National Blood Service after we received confirmation that a man in his 20s was not allowed to donate blood during a recent blood drive due to his sexual orientation.

Whilst sharing his history with the Blood Service in front of other blood donors, the man was embarrassed when he was not given any reason on why he could not donate blood besides his sexual orientation.

No questions were asked as the National Blood Service official just assessed that the man is homosexual.

The man says that he was embarrassed because he was branded as a homosexual with the assumption that he has several partners although he only has one partner.

When questioned by Fijivillage, the Health Ministry says the World Health Organisation guidelines on blood transfusion recommend that donations of blood should not be accepted from people in a number of categories.

It says they include groups such as people with active tuberculosis, anybody who has a history of injecting drug use, those with an irregular heartbeat, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and individuals who have had acupuncture or been tattooed within the past 12 months.

The Ministry says the purpose of excluding such people is to protect the donors themselves from potential risks of giving blood or to protect others from diseases than can be carried in donated blood.

The Health Ministry adds that to reduce the risk of spreading HIV through blood transfusions, the WHO guidelines also advise against accepting blood donations from people who engage in high‑risk sexual behaviours such as those who have multiple sex partners, receive or pay money or drugs for sex, including sex workers and their clients, men who have sex with men and women who have sex with men who have sex with men.

The ministry stresses that Fiji is guided by WHO’s expert advice on blood transfusion.

In order to avoid intrusive questioning, including questioning about individuals’ sexual behaviour, anybody in the categories is asked to self‑exclude from donating blood.

The Health Ministry says all possible steps are taken to protect the safety of those who give blood and those who receive donated blood.