People with HIV will soon be allowed to receive kidney and liver transplants from donors who also have the virus. new rules Approved by the Biden administration.
The final rule released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Tuesday removed the requirement that such transplants be performed as part of a clinical study. HHS originally proposed that rule change In September.
Since 2013, when the HIV Organ Procurement Equity Act (HOPE) Act was signed into law, HIV-positive organ transplants have been allowed in the United States based on specific criteria mandated to conduct research. Before the bill went into effect, organ transplants from donors infected with the virus were prohibited by the federal government.
According to a press release, health officials said the final rule will expand access to vital organs and reduce stigma associated with HIV “by increasing the pool of available organs and streamlining the transplant process.” He said he hopes it will be done.
“We remain committed to increasing access to life-saving organs while addressing the health inequalities faced by people living with HIV,” Health Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement.
“This rule removes unnecessary barriers to kidney and liver transplants, expands the pool of organ donors, and improves outcomes for transplant recipients infected with HIV,” he continued. “This evidence-based policy update demonstrates our commitment to ensuring all Americans have access to the care they need.”
This rule change requires “robust” evidence demonstrating “non-inferiority of kidney transplants between donors and recipients with HIV compared to transplants from donors without HIV to recipients with HIV.” , the release states.
Although this rule change applies only to livers and kidneys, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued a notice seeking public comment on a proposal to revise the HOPE Act's research standards for other organ transplants, including heart, lung, and pancreas. announced.
