Pune Mirror
12 January 2009
by Dipti Barve
Pune, India

To Help Patients Suffering From Accidents or Burns
There was a time if anybody suffered from a burn or injury in an accident and was in need of skin, they had to approach skin banks or search skin donors from other cities due to the lack of skin banking facility in Pune. But this picture is going to change for the better as the city’s first skin bank is starting in a month’s time.

Rotary Club of Khadki in association with Mumbai and Euro Skin Banks, launched the Pune skin bank project, the first of its kind in Pune.

With this facility people of Pune will have an access to a skin bank, whenever required. This skin bank will be set up at Surya Hospital and will be headed by Dr Shrirang Pandit, an eminent plastic surgeon.

Dr. Bod Wesley, the director of Euro Skin Bank, from Holland, spoke on his experiences in setting up skin banks and usefulness of skin banks. Dr. Sunil Keswani, who runs a skin bank in Mumbai, focused on the increasing need of skin donors for treating injured patients.

Dr. Shrirang Pandit, told Pune Mirror, “Hospitals in Pune always face the crunch of the skin donors due to lack of the facility of a skin bank. Around 80 to 100 patients suffer annually due to this. Through this first skin bank which will start within a month in the city, the accident patients are likely to get treated sooner. This bank will also create an awareness about skin donation in society that ultimately helps in getting treatment at the right time.”

Can I be a Skin Donor?
A donor should be free of diseases like cancer, HIV or any viral diseases
Donors should not be affected by any skin disease at the time of death
He/she should be above 18 years of age
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