He survived 43% burns — but thousands aren’t as lucky: India’s silent skin donation crisis

Mumbai’s skin banks are currently receiving only about 25 per cent of the required 150 donations each month, according to the National Burns Centre (NBC), pointing to a critical shortage that is delaying treatment for burn patients. On average, just 30 skin donations are recorded every month, even as demand has remained unchanged since 2020. At present, around 120 patients in Mumbai are on the waiting list, while the NBC receives about 240 donations annually—all of which are utilised but remain far below requirements.

Data from the centre shows that skin donations have increased over time—from just 15 collections in 2009–10 to 213 in 2024–25, with a cumulative 2,430 collections recorded between 2009 and 2026. Despite this rise, experts say the gap persists largely due to low awareness.

Speaking at a closed-door awareness forum, NBC Director and plastic surgeon Dr Sunil Keswani said awareness about skin donation remains limited. “It is likely that only one in ten people know about the option or process of skin donation. This translates into only a fraction of burn survivors receiving skin transplants each year. India records 70 lakh burn injuries annually, of which 1.4 lakh people die. About 50 per cent of these could have been saved if there were enough skin donors,” he said.

Doctors note that around 70 per cent of burn injuries occur among those aged 15 to 35, with women and children accounting for nearly 80 per cent of cases. Most injuries are caused by flames, though industrial accidents involving acid or alkali are also reported. “Earlier, nearly 80 per cent of burns were linked to dowry-related incidents, but that has decreased significantly,” Keswani added.

Skin donation must take place within six hours of death, and the donor must be registered with a local skin bank. The donated skin is preserved and used as a temporary biological dressing, typically applied for up to three weeks to reduce pain and prevent infections before being removed as the patient’s own skin regenerates. Stored under specialised conditions, skin can be preserved for two to five years, and no matching of blood group, colour, or age is required. Doctors usually harvest skin from the back, thighs, and legs, collecting around 2,500 sq cm from a single donor.

At the NBC, doctors say patients with up to 60 per cent burns have shown recovery with skin grafting, while survival chances drop sharply in cases where burns exceed 70 per cent.

“I strongly urge more people to come forward and pledge skin donations. It can be the difference between life and death for burn patients.” Thakoor said.