In the United States, those affected by HIV will soon be able to receive kidney and liver transplants from donors who are also HIV-positive, thanks to a new rule approved by the Biden Administration.
The announcement, made yesterday by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), marks a significant step toward expanding access to life-saving organs and reducing the stigma associated with the virus.
The new regulation removes the restriction that limited these transplants to clinical research. Since 2013, under the HIV Organ Procurement Equity Act (HOPE Act), organ transplants between HIV-positive patients have been allowed, but only in an experimental setting. Prior to this legislation, a federal ban prevented any interaction between donors and recipients who were both affected by the same disease.
Now, transfers will be allowed to occur to occur without restrictions. Additionally, the procedures will be simplified, enabling an increase in the number of available organs.
Xavier Becerra, Secretary of HHS, emphasized the importance of this change, noting the removal of unnecessary barriers.
The change in regulations, currently limited to livers and kidneys, may soon be expanded. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the agency responsible for public health in the U.S., has already initiated a consultation to explore the possibility of including the heart, lungs, and pancreas among the organs eligible for transplant for HIV-positive patients.
