Gays, Sex Workers, Transgender Barred from Blood Donation: Centre to SC

New Delhi: Transgender persons, gays and sex workers are excluded from blood donation based on scientific evidence, stated Centre to the Supreme Court.

Defending this continuing norm, Centre opined that the exclusion of transgender people, gays, and female sex workers was based on scientific evidence.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has filed a preliminary affidavit in the Supreme Court in relation to a petition challenging the blood donor guidelines that bar transgender people, gays, and female sex workers.

The health ministry claimed that it has termed transgenders, gays, and female sex workers in the category of individuals at risk of HIV, Hepatitis B and C based. And this is based on scientific evidence and the opinion of experts.

Even on the balance of the individual rights of the blood donor versus the rights of the recipient, the right of the recipient to receive a safe blood transfusion far outweighs the right of an individual to donate blood said the centre.