India’s 2017 and 2024 blood donation guidelines permanently exclude men who have sex with men, transgender persons, and female sex workers from donating blood, conflating identity with risk. This article argues that such blanket exclusions are unscientific, impractical, and unconstitutional. They stigmatise marginalised groups, weaken voluntary blood donation, and distract from the state’s obligation for advanced testing. The article situates these guidelines within the conversation on structural stigma in health systems and international best practices around blood donation.
Authors: Rishiraj Bhagawati, Aparna Mehrotra
This paper is published in the Economics & Political Weekly Vol. 60, Issue No. 48 on 29th November, 2025.
This paper can be accessed here: Link.