In a major boost for burn treatment in the state, Kerala’s first-ever skin bank is all set to be inaugurated at Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College on July 15, aligning with World Plastic Surgery Day.
The facility, built at a cost of ₹6.75 crore, has received approval from the Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (K-SOTTO) to collect skin through organ donation. Skin banks store donated skin under controlled temperatures to treat burn victims, especially when their own skin cannot be used. This helps significantly in reducing infection and pain during recovery.
Health Minister Veena George said efforts are already underway to establish another skin bank at Kottayam Medical College. She added that to improve burn care services statewide, burn centres have been set up in the medical colleges of Alappuzha, Kollam, and Kannur, along with dedicated Burns ICUs and plastic surgery units.
This initiative comes at a time when the state’s healthcare system faces intense scrutiny, and is expected to bring timely relief and hope to hundreds of patients requiring urgent burn care.