PESHAWAR: The public sector Burns and Plastic Surgery Centre (BPSC) in Peshawar has recorded a 66 per cent increase in patient admissions since its establishment in 2018, prompting its management to call on the government to launch a comprehensive provincial burn prevention programme, particularly as burn injuries tend to rise during the winter season.
The 120-bed tertiary care facility, the only dedicated public-sector burn centre in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, managed a record number of patients last year. Speaking about the centre’s performance, Director Prof Tahmeedullah said the unprecedented inflow of patients highlighted the urgent need for preventive measures and additional resources to sustain quality care.
According to Prof Tahmeedullah, the centre treated 44,877 patients in 2025 and performed surgeries on 9,338 of them. Outpatient department visits stood at 13,881, while 1,808 patients required hospitalisation, reflecting a sharp upward trend of 66 per cent. He said many of these injuries could have been avoided through better public awareness and safety practices.
The centre also treated 114 patients from neighbouring Afghanistan, where specialised burn treatment facilities are limited. Prof Tahmeedullah said this cross-border patient inflow further increased pressure on the already stretched facility.
Data shared by the centre showed that 3,104 plastic surgeries were carried out during the year, along with 2,831 trauma-related procedures and 2,535 burn surgeries. In response to the rising caseload, the BPSC has proposed the establishment of a provincial burn registry to systematically record patient data and guide policy formulation.
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A formal request has been submitted to the government for the creation of the registry and the launch of a province-wide burn prevention programme. Prof Tahmeedullah noted that an estimated 1.5 million people suffer burn injuries annually across Pakistan, with around 10 per cent requiring hospitalisation due to life-threatening conditions. He added that 15 to 20 per cent of victims are left with permanent disabilities, often necessitating multiple surgeries and prolonged rehabilitation.
He said that nearly 70 per cent of burn victims fall within the productive age group of 15 to 40 years, while about 80 per cent belong to low-income households, largely due to illiteracy, poverty and lack of safety awareness. Most burn incidents, he stressed, were preventable through education and an effective legal framework.
Prof Tahmeed said that an estimated 1.5 million people suffered from burn injuries countrywide annually.https://t.co/3raaN6yNWI
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The centre has also reported institutional progress, including the acquisition of advanced medical equipment and expansion of specialised services such as super-microvascular and lymphedema treatment. Prof Tahmeedullah said the BPSC was collaborating with the provincial health department to upgrade plastic surgery services at district hospitals to reduce the burden on the Peshawar facility.
He added that the centre had attracted interest from international delegations, particularly for its experience in managing mass-casualty and terrorism-related burn injuries, highlighting its growing regional significance.
