Blood Donation Policy

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2864

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 2 JULY 2024

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang

MP for Nee Soon GRC

Question No. 6195

To ask 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.

Written Answer

1 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.