National Burns Centre Urges More Donations as Lack of Awareness Costs Lives
by Pranita Kurani Director and Plastic Surgeon Dr. Sunil Keswani points out a critical gap in availability due to lack of awareness~ Mumbai, April 23, 2026: The National Burns Centre (NBC) raised serious concerns over a critical shortage of skin donations across India. Spearheading NBC’s campaign to encourage more skin donor pledges, Director and Plastic Surgeon Dr. Sunil Keswani stated that a lack of awareness about skin donations is a critical cause of this gap. Skin banks in Mumbai receive only 25% of the required donations each month. Around 70% of burn patients are in the 15-35-year age group. Lack of access to skin transplantation leads to severe economic and emotional strain on the burn survivor as well as on their family. With timely access to skin grafts, burn patients can be rehabilitated in their most critical window of care, reducing risks of complications and mortality significantly. Skin can be donated within 6 hours of death and the deceased must be re...
