The Government Radiological Technologists’ Association (GRTA) says that cancer patients are facing serious difficulties due to the suspension of PET scans at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo and Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama.
GRTA President Chanaka Dharmawickrama explained that the suspension is the result of a shortage of the radioactive tracer, or radiopharmaceutical, required to carry out the scans.
The association further noted that the supplier’s registration for this essential material has not yet been updated by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority, contributing to the ongoing delay.
PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans are crucial in cancer care as they help detect cancer cells, assess how far the disease has spread, and determine whether treatment has successfully eliminated cancer activity.
