Certain Taiwanese AIDS carriers will be eligible to receive organ transplants beginning March 1. Due to limited availability, AIDS carriers are currently excluded from transplant waiting lists.
However, the health ministry announced Thursday that AIDS carriers deemed to be sufficiently healthy will be allowed to join waiting lists. The health ministry said that with advances in medicine, AIDS is now regarded as a chronic condition.
Countries such as the US, UK, and Spain already allow AIDS carriers to receive organ transplants. According to the health ministry, carriers who receive transplants have a good chance of survival.
The health ministry estimates that ten AIDS carriers in need of kidney transplants will benefit from the policy change.