Pokhara Faces a Critical Blood Shortage as AB Positive Stocks Run Thin

Pokhara’s Regional Blood Transfusion Service is facing a critical blood shortage, with AB positive among the hardest-hit blood groups. The Nepal Red Cross Society Kaski says stock is rapidly falling as the city goes several days without regular donation programs, and officials are now urging residents to step forward for emergency donation.

According to service head Arjun Gyawali, the shortage has become urgent because there are no routine blood donation drives scheduled between June 2 and June 6. With demand rising and supply shrinking, the blood bank is asking the public to donate immediately to prevent hospitals from being left without enough units for patients who need transfusions.

Why the shortage matters

Blood shortages can quickly disrupt care for surgery patients, accident victims, pregnant women, and people with chronic conditions who rely on regular transfusions. In Pokhara, the concern is especially acute because AB positive blood is already in short supply, making it harder for hospitals and families to find matching units when they are needed most.

The situation also reflects a broader challenge in Nepal’s blood supply system, where donation schedules and emergency demand can fall out of sync. When regular drives pause, blood banks can see reserves drop fast, even in major urban centers.

What officials are asking

Nepal Red Cross Society Kaski is calling on healthy individuals to donate blood as soon as possible. The appeal is aimed at both regular donors and first-time volunteers who can help stabilize the local supply before the shortage deepens.

Officials are treating the request as an emergency appeal rather than a routine campaign, with the goal of quickly restoring stock and easing pressure on hospitals across the region.

A recurring pressure point for hospitals

Pokhara is not the only place in Nepal dealing with blood supply strain, but the timing of this shortage is particularly challenging because the gap in donation programs comes during a period of rising need. When blood banks are depleted, patients’ families often end up scrambling to find donors at the last minute, turning a medical emergency into a community-wide search.

For now, the message from the blood transfusion service is straightforward: donate now if you can. Even a small wave of donors could help prevent a much bigger crisis in the days ahead.