Three thousand units is the average amount of blood that the National Blood Centre of the Thai Red Cross Society receives from donors and keeps in stock each day. Of those, the demand is around 1,500-2,000 units per day, which the centre has to deliver to hospitals, mainly in Bangkok.
In the last couple of weeks, however, the centre has experienced a shortage, receiving only 1,600 units per day. In the long term, this means stock is depleting; in shorter terms, it means a high-risk situation for patients who are on the waiting list.
"Our blood stock is running low because the number of donors is low," said Soisaang Pikulsod, the director of the National Blood Centre. "Most people donate blood only when there's a campaign to raise awareness, when it becomes a 'trend'."
She adds that 60% of donors donate only once a year, when in actuality healthy people are able to donate every three months.
"If people who make donations once a year donate blood more often — or at least twice a year — it will help increase the amount of supply in stock, allowing it to be available for those in need all year long," said Soisaang.
But the blood supply situation and the campaign to draw in donors have inadvertently raised another long-debated issue. No matter how urgent the need for blood is, some donors face certain restrictions. Besides the usual criteria such as age, weight and donors' health, the sexuality of potential donors is a main concern.
Potential donors need to complete a form, consisting of 30 questions, before each donation. Besides questions that are directly related to health, there are a few questions on sexual activity, especially concerning men who have sex with men (MSM). If you answer "yes" to this particular question, chances are you will be rejected as a donor.
A staff member explained that gay men are a high-risk group for HIV and hepatitis B. She said that MSM tend to have sex without prevention because they have no pregnancy risk. Lesbians, however, are not a high-risk group, and there is no screening process for them.
The National Blood Centre declined to comment, citing a ban on blood donation from gay men as global practice. But policies on blood donation vary. In the United States last year, the Food and Drug Administration eased a ban on blood donations from gay men, allowing them to donate one year after their last sexual contact. Next year, the ban on blood donations from gay men, in place since 1983, could be ended. In Australia, the policy is the same, according to the Australian Red Cross.
Earlier this year, the British government considered reversing a ban on gay men donating blood. Northern Ireland, however, maintains a permanent ban on MSM blood donation.
LGBT activists believe that this restriction makes no sense, as everyone who has sexual activities without protection — heterosexual or homosexual — carries the same risk.
"The infection relies on sexual behaviour, not sexual orientation," said Chantalak Raksayu, public communications officer of the Foundation for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Rights and Justice. "By saying that gay donors have a higher risk is an unfair judgement, as others will believe that gays have promiscuous sexual behaviour, which turns into prejudice."
This issue has been a long fight for many LGBT activists. Various campaigns and calls to change the rule have been conducted, but they seem to reach a dead end when the National Blood Centre claimed that it follows international regulations.
"We believe that the regulation allows each country to adapt the rule according to the country's context," said Chantalak.
Danai Linjongrat, the executive director of Rainbow Sky Association, an organisation devoted to LGBT rights, added that the regulation is not compulsory, it's just a guideline.
"If the rule is set for the safety of patients, I have no problem with that," said Danai. "But I've found that there is an attitude of gender discrimination in this."
Danai explained further that once gay men answered on the questionnaire that they experienced MSM, they would never get a chance to donate blood, even if they are no longer sexually active. On the other hand, heterosexual couples are allowed to donate blood, even if they are sexually active.
"The way the National Blood Centre treats sexual orientation is unfair to the reality of sexual diversity in the country," said Danai.
"To make the checklist effective, the questionnaire should contain questions about safe sex and protection in regards to everyone, not just MSM," Danai said.
Champ (real name withheld) is 23 and gay, and decided to lie about his sexual orientation on the questionnaire. He has donated blood 14 times.
"I have a blood test regularly and it's always negative for HIV or hepatitis," Champ said. "I know there are people who need blood and I think I can offer them help."
Natcha Wachpanich, who has donated blood six times, said, "The point of donating blood is to help others. I don't think this has anything to do with sexual orientation. It's not just about sex, but any activities that could contaminate our blood and put receivers at risk should be restrained."
