Other syrup drugs outside the policy are still prohibited from being used in health facilities, including being sold by pharmacies until further announcementJakarta (ANTARA) - Spokesperson of the Health Ministry Mohammad Syahril reported that investigations into cases of acute kidney disorders in Indonesia had led to one factor of syrup drug poisoning.
"Investigations by the Ministry of Health with the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) has led to one of the causes, specifically drug poisoning," Syahril noted in a press conference related to acute kidney disorders here, Tuesday.
He pointed out that cases of kidney failure in Indonesia occurred almost every year, with the number of cases ranging from one to two patients per month.
"Acute kidney diseases have come to the government's attention after an increase in cases in August 2022 to more than 35. This is similar to acute hepatitis, whose cases also spiked," Syahril remarked.
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The spike in cases of acute kidney disease occurred due to chemical contamination of certain drugs, some of which have been identified, including ethylene glycol (EG), diethylene glycol (DEG), and ethylene glycol butyl ether (EGBE) in syrup drugs.
Thus, the government has adopted a policy to stop the use, distribution, and prescription of syrup drugs to the public as of October 18, 2022.
"The policy has temporarily succeeded in preventing the addition of new cases at the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital as a national kidney referral," he stated.
As a follow-up to the testing of syrup drug products suspected of containing hazardous compounds by the Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), the ministry issued a permit for the reuse of 156 syrup drugs for consumers.
The related policy is contained in the Letter of the Ministry's Acting Director General of Health Services No. SR.01.05/III/3461/2022 concerning Instructions for Use of Liquid/Syrup Drugs in Children in the context of Prevention of Increased Acute Kidney Disorder Cases.
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"Other syrup drugs outside the policy are still prohibited from being used in health facilities, including being sold by pharmacies until further announcement," Syahril remarked.
The development of cases of acute kidney disorders as of October 24, 2022, recorded 255 cases originating from 26 provinces. A total of 143 patients had reportedly died or equivalent to 56 percent of the total cases.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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