Tacrolimus level tests, vital for monitoring liver and kidney transplant patients, have been indefinitely delayed in Sri Lanka’s government hospitals due to a severe shortage of essential testing chemicals, according to laboratory scientists.
Officials at the Colombo National Hospital confirmed the test has been unavailable for the past three months. The Director of the Sri Lanka Institute of Medical Research, Dr. Suranga Dolamulla, also acknowledged facing the same shortage.
Tacrolimus testing is a crucial procedure carried out monthly or quarterly, as advised by doctors, to determine the correct dosage of the drug tacrolimus—a lifelong medication required to prevent organ rejection.
If the drug level in the blood is too low, the risk of the body rejecting the transplanted organ increases. If the level is too high, it can lead to serious side effects and damage other organs. Without regular testing, doctors are unable to safely adjust dosages, putting patients’ lives in jeopardy.
While a few private hospitals offer the test at a cost of around Rs. 26,000, the price is unaffordable for many. Moreover, testing is only available at limited locations, including the Colombo Medical Research Institute and Colombo National Hospital, making access difficult for patients living outside major cities.
This ongoing crisis highlights a dangerous gap in Sri Lanka’s healthcare system and underscores the urgent need to restore tacrolimus testing services to protect the health and survival of transplant patients.
