Belgium Faces O-Negative and B-Negative Blood Shortage

Red Cross Flanders has issued an urgent appeal for blood donations as supplies of O-negative and B-negative blood types have fallen to critically low levels, Het Laatste Nieuws reports. The shortage, compounded by an ongoing heatwave that increases hospital demand while reducing donor turnout, has prompted health authorities to warn that elective surgeries may be postponed as a last resort.

According to Red Cross Flanders, nearly all blood groups are running low, but O-negative and B-negative are the most concerning due to their rarity and medical importance. O-negative blood is the universal donor type, compatible with all patients and indispensable in emergency situations where blood typing is not possible.

A Perfect Storm of Supply and Demand

The blood shortage follows a familiar seasonal pattern known as the “summer dip,” where donation rates typically fall by 10 to 15 percent during July and August. This year, VRT NWS reports that donations have dropped by 15 percent since the beginning of July alone, with many regular donors postponing their appointments due to holidays and summer activities. Travel to certain countries also results in a four-month waiting period before donors can give blood again.

At the same time, Belgium is enduring a prolonged heatwave with Code Yellow warnings in effect. Emergency departments are seeing an influx of patients with severe injuries requiring blood transfusions. “During heatwaves, more patients come in who have suffered severe accidents with heavy blood loss, and there is thus an acute greater need for blood,” said Dr. Philip Verdonck, an emergency physician at the University Hospital Antwerp (UZA).

A heatwave in late June already caused Belgium to record the highest excess mortality in Europe during that period, underscoring the serious health risks posed by extreme temperatures.

The Numbers Behind the Crisis

Nathalie Bergs, Head of Donor Management at Red Cross Flanders, highlighted the demographic challenge: “Seven percent of Belgians have O-negative as their blood group, and with B-negative that is barely 1.5 percent. That’s less than 1 in 10 Flemish people, and we feel that in our supply.”

Approximately 125,000 Flemish people donate blood annually, contributing to about 250,000 donations per year through a network of 16 donor centers and numerous local blood drives. But the summer months consistently strain this system. “If you have never given blood before, try it once in the summer,” Bergs urged. “You help us enormously to fill the gaps of the loyal donors in the summer months.”

Dr. Verdonck confirmed that hospitals are already adapting their protocols. “If we notice a structural shortage in the blood supply during the summer, planned operations can be postponed or more spread out. But that is a last resort.” He added that he has never personally experienced a situation where blood was needed and unavailable, but vigilance is heightened during the summer.

A Positive Step Forward

There is encouraging news on the policy front. A change to Belgian blood legislation, effective July 2026, has lowered the minimum blood volume required for donation from 3.5 liters to 3.33 liters, aligning Belgium with EU directives. Red Cross Flanders spokesperson Vincent Verbeecke explained the impact: “The difference seems small, but it means that an estimated 75,000 women in Flanders who previously could not donate blood can now do so.”

Since the change was announced on July 13, approximately 6,000 new female candidate donors have already registered with Red Cross Flanders. The policy shift addresses a historical inequity that disproportionately excluded smaller and lighter individuals—mostly women—from donating.

What Comes Next

The immediate priority is replenishing the depleted blood stocks, particularly for O-negative and B-negative types. Joris Vandekerckhove of Red Cross Flanders emphasized the urgency: “Every patient can receive blood from O-negative donors, their blood is extra valuable. Anyone who has O-negative or B-negative can now really make a big difference.”

Potential donors can make an appointment at one of 16 donor centers or attend local blood drives, which continue throughout the summer. The Red Cross operates on a voluntary donation model, which it says ensures higher quality and safety compared to paid donation systems.

As the heatwave continues and the summer dip persists, the coming weeks will test the resilience of Belgium’s blood supply. The question remains whether public appeals and the expanded donor pool from the blood law change will be sufficient to prevent the postponement of elective surgeries—a scenario that health authorities are determined to avoid.

Those with O-negative or B-negative blood are being urged to step forward. In the words of Nathalie Bergs: “We see that donating on a voluntary basis works. If you look at other countries where they pay for donations, you see that people lie on their questionnaire. It is also for the safety of the donor better if it is on a voluntary basis.”