Blood restriction related to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease lifted for British nationals

A blood donation restriction related to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease has been lifted for people who lived in the United Kingdom, including Maltese nationals who studied and worked there between 1980 and 1996, opening the door for an estimated 15,000 British nationals in Malta to become donors.

"During the meeting with the High Commissioner, we discussed this very restriction at a time when the necessary work to review it was already underway. Today, thanks to research and scientific studies, we are removing it and giving more people the opportunity to play their part," Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg said, appealing for the public to donate blood.

The restriction had been in place for several years due to concerns about variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), which was present in the UK during that period. 

The decision to lift it was made after scientific research and long-term surveillance showed there is no longer a risk of disease transmission through blood donation. It also follows updated guidance issued by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM).

Borg reiterated his commitment to encourage more people to donate blood, a pledge he made a few weeks ago when, in one of his first initiatives as Minister responsible for Health, he joined several Ministry employees in giving blood.

The review of the restriction was among the matters discussed during a meeting Borg held a few days ago with the British High Commissioner to Malta, Victoria Busby. 

Monique Debattista, Responsible Person and Medical Director within the National Blood Transfusion Service, said the Service's register includes around 350 people who had previously expressed their wish to donate blood but were unable to do so because of the restriction.

She said they will now be contacted and encouraged to become donors, either for the first time or once again after many years.

"We are truly pleased with this change because we know that there are a substantial number of people who wish to donate blood but who, because of this restriction, were unable to do so for many years. We will now be able to welcome back donors who had to stop donating, while also welcoming new donors," said Debattista.

British resident Sara Hazzard was among the first people able to donate blood following the removal of the restriction. She said the British community had long been waiting for this change and encouraged those who, until now, were unable to donate blood to come forward and do so.

"It was a truly rewarding experience to finally be able to give something back to the community through this opportunity. I would like to encourage the many friends and family members who often ask whether they can donate blood to now follow my example and do the same," she said.