Burn victims in Pakistan have received a major breakthrough in treatment with the launch of the country’s first skin bank at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. The new facility aims to improve the survival and recovery chances of patients with severe burns by providing advanced skin grafting solutions.
The skin bank will allow doctors to culture a patient’s own skin in a laboratory and later use it for grafting. This method is less painful and more effective than traditional grafting, where skin was usually taken from another healthy part of the body.
Dr. Syed Mujahid Gilani, Head of the Burn Intensive Care Unit at PIMS, explained that the cultured skin will be developed in collaboration with the Molecular Biology Department of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU). The service will begin once approval is granted by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap).
According to Dr. Gilani, patients with 80 to 100 percent burns require urgent grafts to survive. Cultured skin, though often called “synthetic,” still requires donor tissue matched by blood group. However, the cultured graft can be stored for up to five years, ensuring timely access when needed.
A small sample, around two centimeters, will be taken from stabilized patients about a week after injury. This sample will then be grown in the lab before being applied to patients.
Traditional burn dressings cost between Rs. 55,000 and Rs. 150,000. Cultured skin is expected to be more affordable and reduce the need for repeated dressings.
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal inaugurated the facility at a ceremony in Islamabad. He assured that Drap will soon issue the necessary licence and pledged continued government support for burn treatment.
International burn expert Dr. Nikki Allorto also attended the event, stressing the importance of global treatment standards and skilled staff. Senior medical officials, including SZABMU Vice Chancellor Dr. Tanvir Khaliq and PIMS Executive Director Dr. Rana Imran Sikandar, were also present.
The launch of this facility in Islamabad marks a historic step in Pakistan’s healthcare system, offering hope to thousands of burn patients nationwide.
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