HIV+ patients can now receive organs from HIV+ donors

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) has announced that HIV patients can now receive certain organs from HIV-positive donors. This should help reduce waiting times and expand the pool of available organs.

Before the change, which came into effect on Wednesday (November 27), transplants between people with HIV were only part of research projects.

“We continue to do everything we can to increase access to life-saving organs while addressing health disparities for people living with HIV,” said HSS Secretary Xavier Becerra.

“This rule removes unnecessary barriers to kidney and liver transplants, expands the organ donor pool, and improves outcomes for transplant recipients with HIV.” This evidence-based policy update demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that all Americans have access to the care they need.”

Deputy Secretary Rachel Levine added: “Research shows that kidney and liver transplants between donors and recipients with HIV can be performed safely and effectively. This change reflects our commitment to following evidence and updating our approaches as we learn more.

“By eliminating research requirements where they are no longer needed, we can provide more people living with HIV with access to life-saving transplants.”

Carole Johnson, administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, praised the new policy, saying, “This is a significant step forward in expanding access and reducing wait times for life-saving organ transplants for people living with HIV.”

Previous research has shown the practice to be safe.

A study published last month in the New England Journal of Medicine found that in a pool of 198 kidney recipients followed for four years, recipients experienced similarly high overall survival rates and low rates of organ rejection among people with HIV and those without it Virus that can cause AIDS.

U.S. citizens can learn about organ donation at www.organdonor.gov.

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