Review One-year Ban from Blood Donation for Ex-offenders

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will review the policy on banning ex-offenders from donating blood within one year of their prison release.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) follows the World Health Organisation’s recommendation to implement an appropriate deferral period after ex-offenders have been released from prison before they can donate blood. This is to ensure the safety of the national blood supply as there is a higher prevalence of blood-borne infections in this group. HSA’s current deferral period is aligned with the deferral period in developed countries, such as Australia, Canada and the United States of America.