Blood and Bias: The Case for Reforming India’s Outdated Donation Policies | Disha

Abstract

This article explores the ongoing debate over blood donation policies in India, focusing on the restrictions imposed on LGBT+ individuals and transgender people. Originating from global responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, these restrictions were initially justified by fears of HIV transmission but have persisted despite advancements in HIV detection technology. In India, the National Blood Transfusion Council and the National AIDS Control Organization’s 2017 guidelines