State's largest skin bank launched at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital

Ahmedabad: The state government in a collaborative effort with the Rotary Club Kankaria has launched Gujarat's largest government skin bank at Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

The Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad on Wednesday launched Gujarat's largest government skin bank, besides other advanced medical facilities.

Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel presided over the inauguration ceremony. 

Rushikesh Patel, in his address, highlighted the initiatives as a testament to the collective efforts of the government, society, and philanthropic organisations in realising the vision of a "Developed Gujarat leading to Developed India by 2047".

The projects are expected to significantly elevate the level of healthcare services available to the citizens, reflecting a comprehensive approach to medical care and patient welfare, an official said.

As per a media report in the Ahmedabad Mirror, Set up for Rs 48 lakh by the Rotary Club of Kankaria in Ahmedabad, the bank is touted to be the “biggest” Skin Bank in the state. Officials, however, said the size of the Skin Bank does not matter as it is like a processing lab where cadaveric skin tissue donated by family members of deceased persons is processed and stored for use in grafting in patients with burns or severe injuries.

The skin bank is poised to become a resource for the burns and plastic surgery department. Additionally, the inauguration featured the unveiling of a '128-slice GE CT scan' machine, worth around Rs 6.25 crore.

This addition is expected to reduce wait times for patients needing CT scans while providing high-resolution imaging capabilities for better diagnosis and treatment planning.

Other noteworthy projects introduced include a new patient facilitation centre at the OPD, constructed with the support of Bank of Baroda, and innovative patient golf cart services funded by Astra Foundation and Canara Bank, aimed at enhancing patient mobility within the hospital premises. A contribution from the Rotary Club Kankaria also saw the allocation of Rs 12 lakh towards developing a children's garden opposite the hospital.