Burn victims in Pakistan have received a breakthrough in medical care as the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, has set up the country’s first skin bank to support advanced burn treatment.
The new facility will enable doctors to culture a patient’s own skin in a laboratory and use it for grafting, offering a less painful and more effective alternative to traditional methods. Until now, skin for grafts was usually taken from another healthy part of the patient’s body.
Dr. Syed Mujahid Gilani, Head of the Burn Intensive Care Unit at PIMS, explained that skin banks, much like blood banks in other countries, provide life-saving grafts to patients with severe burns. At PIMS, the skin will be cultured at the Molecular Biology Department of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) before being applied to patients.
“Patients with 80 to 100 percent burns need immediate grafts to heal quickly. Previously, we had no access to cultured skin. Now preparations are complete, and once we receive approval from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), we will begin applying it,” Dr. Gilani said.
He clarified that while often called “synthetic skin,” donor tissue is still required, and the graft must match the patient’s blood group. Cultured skin can be stored for up to five years, ensuring availability when needed.
A small tissue sample, around two centimeters in size, will be taken from stabilized patients about a week after injury. This sample will then be grown in the lab and later used for grafting.
Dr. Gilani noted that traditional burn dressings cost between Rs. 55,000 and Rs. 150,000, while cultured skin will be more affordable and reduce the need for repeated dressings.
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal has assured support, promising that Drap will issue the required licence soon. He 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.
Speaking at the event, Minister Kamal emphasized the government’s commitment to providing immediate and quality care for burn patients and pledged continued support for improving burn treatment nationwide.
International burn expert Dr. Nikki Allorto from South Africa highlighted the need to follow global treatment standards and ensure trained staff for better recovery outcomes.
Professor Dr. Abdul Khaliq described the launch of the stem cell and skin bank as a landmark achievement for Pakistan’s healthcare system.
The inauguration was attended by senior medical officials, including SZABMU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Tanvir Khaliq, PIMS Executive Director Professor Rana Imran Sikandar, and Professor Dr. S.H. Waqar.