Bharatiya Janata Party Rajya Sabha member Vinod Tawde urged the Union Government on Thursday (August 6, 2026) to develop a comprehensive national framework for skin donation and skin banking to improve treatment for patients with severe burn injuries.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Tawde said donated skin plays a critical role in the management of major burns by acting as a temporary biological dressing, reducing the risk of infection and excessive fluid loss until definitive treatment can be provided.

Referring to the provisions of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, he said skin donation was already recognised under the law and called for stronger implementation through the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO). He urged the government to strengthen skin retrieval systems, establish more skin banks, improve cold-chain transportation, and undertake sustained public awareness campaigns to increase donations.

Mr. Tawde said skin could be donated within six hours of death and, once retrieved and processed, could be preserved for up to five years. Unlike organ transplantation, skin donation does not require blood group or tissue matching, making it easier to use for patients requiring emergency burn care, he said.

He also noted that only the outermost layer of the skin is retrieved from donors and that the procedure does not result in visible disfigurement, addressing a common concern among potential donor families.

Calling for a well-connected national network for skin retrieval, storage and transportation, Mr. Tawde said improving access to donated skin could significantly enhance burn care services across the country and improve outcomes for patients with extensive burn injuries.

Published - August 06, 2026 08:26 pm IST