First skin bank in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad’s leading hospital introduced the first skin bank in Pakistan. Burn victims in Pakistan now have access to a groundbreaking medical facility. The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad has launched the country’s first skin bank. This innovative step is expected to transform burn treatment nationwide by providing advanced skin grafting solutions.
A Milestone in Burn Care
The new skin bank will allow doctors to culture a patient’s own skin in a laboratory before grafting it back. This method reduces pain and improves healing compared to traditional techniques where healthy skin was removed from another part of the body.
Dr. Syed Mujahid Gilani, Head of the Burn Intensive Care Unit at PIMS, explained that skin banks operate like blood banks, supplying grafts to patients with severe burns. At PIMS, the cultured skin will be prepared at the Molecular Biology Department of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU).
How the Process Works
Patients with 80 to 100 percent burns need urgent grafts. According to Dr. Gilani, this option was not available before. Now, after approval from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), the application will begin.
Although often described as “synthetic skin,” donor tissue remains essential, and the graft must match the patient’s blood group. Cultured skin can be preserved for up to five years, ensuring timely availability. A tissue sample, just two centimeters in size, will be taken from patients once they stabilize. That sample will then be grown in the lab and later used for grafting procedures.
Affordable and Effective Treatment
Traditional burn dressings cost between Rs. 55,000 and Rs. 150,000. Cultured skin will be more affordable and will reduce the need for repeated dressings. This breakthrough promises both economic relief and improved patient recovery.
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal has pledged full support. He assured that Drap will soon issue the required licence for cultured skin use. The minister also inaugurated the new Stem Cell and Skin Bank at a ceremony titled “From Trauma to Recovery: Elevating Burn Treatment Standards” held at the PIMS MCH Auditorium.
Expert Opinions and Future Prospects
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Kamal reiterated the government’s commitment to quality healthcare and rapid burn treatment. Professor Dr. Abdul Khaliq hailed the initiative as a landmark in Pakistan’s healthcare system. The event was attended by senior officials, including SZABMU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Tanvir Khaliq, PIMS Executive Director Professor Rana Imran Sikandar, and Professor Dr. S.H. Waqar.
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