Kerala to launch first skin bank
Kerala is set to launch its first skin bank at the Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, within a month, Health Minister Veena George announced on Monday, 30 December, 2024.
The initiative, currently in its final stages, is awaiting approval from the Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (K-SOTTO) for the procurement of skin through the organ donation process.
The minister stated that, once the necessary permissions are secured and procedures completed, the facility will become operational.
The plan for the skin bank was initially floated in 2018, two years after the Puttingal fireworks tragedy exposed critical gaps in burn care and follow-up treatment, particularly for severe burn victims requiring skin grafts.
The then Health Minister, KK Shylaja, announced that ₹6.6 crore had been sanctioned for the project, which included setting up the skin bank, a burns ICU, and procuring essential medical equipment, with ₹2.079 crore allocated in the first phase. However, the proposal ultimately failed to materialise.
Meanwhile, plans are also underway to establish a second skin bank at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kottayam.
Additionally, standard guidelines for setting up skin banks across the state are being formulated.
Why skin banks are important
Skin banks collect, preserve, and transplant donated human skin tissue using advanced technology.
This process is critical for treating burn and accident victims, significantly reducing the risk of infection, saving lives, and preventing disfigurement.
Minister George emphasised the need to enhance public awareness about skin donation, akin to organ donation campaigns.
Burns units, supervised by the Plastic Surgery Department, play a crucial role in treating severe burn cases.
Currently, these units are operational in medical colleges in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Ernakulam, and Thrissur, along with the Ernakulam General Hospital and the Kollam District Hospital.
Standardised burn care
The government has also expanded its focus on burn care, establishing plastic surgery departments in medical colleges in Alappuzha, Kannur, and Kollam. Work is underway to set up burns units in the Kozhikode Medical College, while proposals have been sought for units in Alappuzha, Kollam, and Kannur medical colleges.
A standardised treatment protocol for burns units is expected within 15 days, along with a centralised mechanism to coordinate centrally sponsored schemes.
Minister George highlighted the advanced intensive care facilities in burns ICUs, which help minimise infection risks and aid in the speedy recovery of patients with burns exceeding 20 per cent. The South First
