Blood Transfusion Service Calls on Public and Organizations to Organize Donation Drives

The Nepal Red Cross Society has issued an urgent public appeal for blood donations following a severe depletion of blood and key blood component stocks at its Central Blood Transfusion Service, raising critical concerns over fulfilling emergency patient requirements across hospitals. The acute shortage stems primarily from a sharp decline in organized blood donation drives during the recent Dashain holiday season, a period during which collections at corporate offices and educational institutions dropped significantly while hospital demand for life-saving treatments continued to rise uninterrupted. According to Dr. Prakash Yadav, chief of the Central Blood Transfusion Service operated by the NRCS, reserves of whole blood, packed red blood cells, and platelet-rich plasma across all blood groups have completely run out, creating severe operational challenges in meeting everyday medical needs. In response to the crisis, Dr. Yadav has urged healthy men and women aged 18 and older to step forward and donate, emphasizing the need for voluntary donors who have completed at least three months since their previous donation. Echoing this urgency, NRCS President Dr. Bishal Kumar Bhandari called upon individual donors, community groups, and local organizations to immediately initiate and host collective blood donation programs to replenish the national reserve. Highlighting the organization’s widespread reach, NRCS General Secretary Rishi Khanal noted that the society operates blood transfusion service centers and specialized units across 120 locations spanning 73 districts to ensure regional accessibility. To facilitate immediate assistance, the NRCS has directed citizens seeking to donate blood or obtain supplies for hospital patients to contact the Central Blood Transfusion Service directly via phone or reach out through the dedicated NRCS toll-free helpline. Furthermore, the society has encouraged the public to download and utilize the NRCS BTS Mobile App from the Play Store to access real-time information, track availability, and connect with transfusion services efficiently during this critical supply deficit.