Tacrolimus test delays put liver, kidney transplant patients at risk

Colombo, June 10 (Daily Mirror) - Tacrolimus level tests, which are essential for liver and kidney transplant patients, have been indefinitely delayed in government hospitals due to a shortage of the chemicals required for the test, government hospital laboratory scientists claimed.

Laboratory officials at the Colombo National Hospital (CNH) confirmed that the test has been unavailable for the past three months due to the chemical shortage.

Sri Lanka Institute of Medical Research Director Dr. Suranga Dolamulla acknowledged that his institution is also facing a crisis due to the lack of these chemicals.

Tacrolimus level testing is a critical test that must be performed monthly or every three months, as prescribed by a doctor, for post-transplant patients. The test determines the appropriate daily dosage of tacrolimus, a lifelong medication for transplant recipients.

Based on the test results: If tacrolimus levels are below the standard range, the dosage must be increased to prevent organ rejection.

If levels are too high, the dose must be reduced to avoid severe side effects.

Failure to monitor and adjust tacrolimus levels properly can be life-threatening. Doctors warn that low tacrolimus levels increase the risk of the body rejecting the transplanted organ, while excessively high levels can damage other organs.

This highlights the vital importance of regular tacrolimus testing for transplant patients.

However, the test is currently unavailable in most government hospitals. Private hospitals offer the test at a cost of around Rs. 26,000, which is unaffordable for many patients. Additionally, the test is only conducted at a few major hospitals, including the Colombo Medical Research Institute and the Colombo National Hospital, leaving patients across the island in a precarious situation.

This crisis exposes a critical weakness in Sri Lanka’s healthcare system, putting the lives of transplant patients at risk.