Switzerland modified the blood donation requirements for men who have sexual relations with other men, making the criteria for eligibility identical for homosexuals and heterosexuals.
A four-month waiting period applies to all individuals, heterosexual or homosexual, after their last sexual encounter with a new partner, or a 12-month waiting period if they have had sexual contact with more than two partners in the preceding four months. A policy dating back to the beginning of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the 1980s prohibited homosexual males from donating blood in Switzerland until 2017. Since then, men who engage in sexual activity with other males are only permitted to donate blood if 12 months have passed since their last homosexual encounter.
Source: Reuters
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