Dr Ashish Gupta spoke on challenges of starting burns unit in private and corporate hospitals

Ludhiana, December 8, 2023: Dr Ashish Gupta, Director Department of Plastic Surgery, Deep Hospital, Ludhiana was amongst the august invitees for the inauguration of the regions’ first Skin Bank at PGI Chandigarh which was followed by CME on Current Trends in Burn Care. He spoke on the challenges of starting a burns unit in private and corporate hospitals. 

He said the Skin Bank will revolutionise Burns care and shall help bring down the mortality of patients suffering from major burns (more than 40 per cent). The CME had faculty from various corners of the country. Dr.Anant Sinha, National President, Burns Association, Ranchi; Dr.Vinita Puri, KEM Hospital Mumbai, Dr.Adil H Wani, SKIMS, Srinagar; Dr.Sanjeev Uppal, Solan; Dr.R.K. Mittal, DMC, Ludhiana; and Dr.Deepak Bhatti, Faridkot were among them. 

Dr.Gupta spoke on the need for dedicated burn care centers in Punjab and the positive role the management of Deep Hospital was playing in creating infrastructure for the same. It is common for the lay person to be referred only to medical colleges for treatment of burns but when similar and better equipped staff are available in the private sector, it is a matter of awareness that they can be treated nearer to their homes.

He said recent advances in the form of artificial skin, chemical debriding agents and the role of skin bank in management of burns was discussed in the CME. The occasion also had a public forum where general public and others asked all the experts present their queries on burns and the part the skin bank shall play in shaping burns care in the region.