Click to play videoNew Delhi: Never mind perennial shortage at blood banks. If you're gay and you want to donate blood you don't have that option - at least as far as the Capital's best hospitals go. The blood donation form at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for instance lists homosexuality under high risk behaviour.
The Indian Red Cross has already expressed concern that the Capital is short of over 2 lakh units of blood.
HOD Blood Bank Ganga Ram Hospital, Dr Saran says, "If the donor is adamant, we do take his blood and test it. If found contaminated we throw it away. We are not saying a homosexual will always be 100 per cent infected."
In upmarket South Delhi, Moolchand Hospital has a similar policy and officials even say science backs them.
Moolchand Medcity's Dr KK Agarwal says, "A blood test is never 100 per cent sure. Donors may be in a window period, may test negative and yet transmit infection to the recipients."
Gay rights is the buzzword now across the country, but are doctors right in worrying about blood donation? They cite statistics that show 10 per cent of India's homosexual population to be HIV positive, a number that could be much higher. And they also point out at stringent international laws.
In America, Canada and the UK, homosexuals are banned for life from donating blood. The US Food and Drug Administration also permanently bans homosexuals from donating blood or its components.
With Section 377 being struck down, some doctors say it's now time for India to also frame a proper law for blood banks, for a clearer picture and for those getting blood donations to be assured of their safety.
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