Chitwan, often referred to as a major medical hub, is facing a growing imbalance between the demand for blood and the number of available donors. While the need for blood has been rising steadily, the number of voluntary donors has not kept pace, creating challenges for patient care.
According to the Nepal Red Cross Society’s provincial blood transfusion centre in Bharatpur, the district requires around 150 units of blood daily. However, collection levels remain insufficient. So far in the current fiscal year, over 11,500 units have been collected through organised donation drives, with an additional 3,100 units donated directly at the centre. Despite these efforts, the number of walk-in donors has been declining over the past two years.
Several factors are contributing to the shortage. A significant number of young people, who form the core donor base, are leaving the country for foreign employment. At the same time, many older donors are becoming ineligible due to health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
The demand is especially high in Chitwan due to the presence of major health institutions, including B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital and Bharatpur Hospital, which attract patients from across the country. As a result, blood often has to be sourced from more than a dozen neighbouring districts to meet urgent needs.
Experts say improving coordination between institutions and encouraging new donors are key to addressing the crisis. There are also calls to promote blood donation through education and introduce incentives to attract younger participants, as the pressure on the system continues to grow.