But it took years and $5 million worth of research into safety before it was recommended to Health Canada.Ĭanadian Blood Services said it would be prepared to recommend that Health Canada reduce the time sex workers have to wait before donating blood to less than a year, but wanted to make changes incrementally. Justin Trudeau's Liberals had promised to scrap the ban on gay men donating blood during the 2015 election campaign. The move follows an end last month of the ban on gay and bisexual men from donating blood, which was welcomed by MPs and LGBTQ advocates. The ban, introduced 45 years ago, is set to be replaced by a one-year 'deferral' after paid sex work. The blood-donation service this month recommended to Health Canada that it abolish the lifetime ban on donation by people who have taken money or drugs in exchange for sex. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan RemiorzĬanadian Blood Services wants to scrap a lifetime ban on sex workers giving blood in a further move to make blood donation more equitable.
There are no immediate plans to further relax restrictions on gay and bisexual blood donors despite the fact officials are testing the waters on the idea, says the agency responsible for Canada's blood supply. A bag of blood is shown at a clinic in Montreal, Thursday, November 29, 2012.
