We can conclude that this drug (Fomepizole) has a positive impact, and we will accelerate its arrival to Indonesia to save more patients
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin ensured that the antidote drug called Fomepizole injection for patients with Atypical Progressive Acute Kidney Disorders (AKI) was provided free of charge to all.

"We can conclude that this drug (Fomepizole) has a positive impact, and we will accelerate its arrival to Indonesia to save more patients," he noted in a press release received here, Tuesday.

Sadikin remarked that Indonesia had imported Fomepizole from Singapore and tested it on 10 AKI patients at the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM), Jakarta. As a result, the condition of the patients had shown improvement, with some of them remaining stable.


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Sadikin said that the patient, who was initially unable to urinate and started dialysis treatment with no improvement, had shown progress after receiving the Fomepizole injection.

According to the minister, similar drugs will be imported from Australia, the United States, and Japan. Later, RSCM will distribute to government hospitals and referral hospitals in each province.

“We will give the medicine to AKI patients for free. This is our readiness to provide the antidote to all government hospitals that treat AKI patients," he added.

The minister noted that each patient is expected to receive one vial with 1.5 grams or 1.5 ml injection dose.


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"There are several injections, but one vial is sufficient. We hope it would be distributed immediately to hospitals," he stated.

Until Monday, the ministry had recorded a total of 245 cases of AKI in 26 provinces throughout Indonesia. Eight provinces that have contributed 80 percent of the cases are Jakarta, West Java, Aceh, East Java, West Sumatra, Bali, Banten, and North Sumatra. The fatality rate or percentage of deaths out of the 245 cases is quite high, which is 141 or 57.6 percent.

Meanwhile, the ministry remarked that 38 out of the 245 AKI patients were declared cured after undergoing intensive treatment at the hospital.


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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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