All sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics that offer testing, treatment, and prevention services for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) should be friendly to gender diverse patients with HIV screening being discussed and offered to all. Additionally, all gender affirmation surgeries require considered multi-disciplinary input over a minimum period of one year, the latest standard operating procedure for medical treatment of transgender persons released recently by the Health Ministry states. Gender Affirmation Surgery has an important role in the treatment of gender incongruence and various surgical options are available to transgender individuals.
Also read | Central government hospital steps in to bat for transpersons’ health In the current SOP the Health Ministry has defined the role of mental health professionals (psychiatrists and/or clinical psychologist as per availability). It notes that the primary role of the mental health professionals would include assessment for gender incongruence, as per the current diagnostic system followed by World Health Organization (WHO), and certification for the same. Before endocrinology treatment, a certificate from one psychiatrist is required.
Before Gender Affirmation Surgery, two certificates are required – from a psychiatrist and from a clinical psychologist/psychiatrist. “Apart from that, the mental health professional would also assess for distress and co-morbid mental and/or substance use disorders and provide m.