Doctors treating burn patients in Mumbai have raised concerns over the city's stagnant skin donation numbers, which have remained unchanged over the past few years. Every month, approximately 150 patients are placed on the wait-list for skin grafts, but only about 30 donations are made. Of these, 20 are directed to the National Burns Centre in Airoli, while the remaining 10 are sent to skin banks at KEM Hospital and Sion Hospital.
Stagnant Donation Trends
The numbers have not improved over the past few years. According to data from the Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre (ZTCC), out of 20 families this year who donated organs of a deceased relative, only four chose to donate skin. Additional donations from non-governmental organizations were not accounted for in this data.
Misconceptions About Skin Donation
Dr Sunil Keswani, head of the National Burns Centre in Airoli, addressed the media on Thursday, highlighting widespread misconceptions. “People have a lot of misconceptions about skin donation. The most common one is that it would damage the body, but that is not the case,” he said. “We take only a very thin layer from the back, thighs, and legs, and return the body after carefully covering those areas.”
National Burn Injury Statistics
Across the country, there are approximately 70 lakh burn injury cases annually, with 1.4 lakh resulting in death. Dr Keswani noted that 50% of these patients could have been saved if there were enough skin donations. The most common burn victims are women and children, accounting for four out of five cases. Additionally, 80% of admitted cases are due to kitchen accidents.
Industrial and Transfer Challenges
Dr Keswani also observed a significant number of factory workers suffering from chemical burns. Many burn injury cases in Mumbai are transferred to the Airoli Burns Centre because public hospitals lack the necessary infection control measures.
Call for Awareness
With only 30 donations per month against a demand of 150, the gap remains critical. Doctors urge the public to overcome misconceptions and consider skin donation as a vital act that can save lives, especially for burn victims.
