Changes to the eligibility rules in Ireland for blood donors came into effect today in what has been described as a ‘great day’ by medical professionals.
As of Monday, November 28, men who have sex with men will no longer have to wait four months to give blood, and instead, will be able to undergo individual assessments.
The medical and scientific director at the Irish Blood Transfusion Service hailed the news as "donations become more inclusive without compromising patient safety".
Dr. Tor Hervig said that while there are currently 75,000 regular blood donors in Ireland, more volunteers are needed in order to secure blood supply for patients going forward.
This comes just one year after the UK made the same rule changes to their criteria, and Dr. Hervig said while traditional rules have been good for patient safety up to now, in a modern society it is expected that the requirements should be based on an individual and not a group.
He explained that: "We are number ten in Europe implementing such regulations, and even in these other countries, the other nine countries, the rules are different," he said.
"So, I don't think we are late, I think we're just on time”.
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