Indonesia bans sale of medicinal syrups after death of 99 children due to kidney diseases

JAKARTA: Indonesia has temporarily banned the sale of all medicinal syrups as 99 children died of kidney diseases. 206 cases were reported from 20 provinces. The children who died were under the age of five. Health Ministry has taken such an action following this.

Health experts have found that some syrups caused kidney disease in children. But it is not clear whether the syrups were given for which disease or whether they were manufactured in the country or abroad. Following this, the Health Ministry ordered to stop the sale of syrups until further notice. Kidney disease in children has been reported since January this year. 65 per cent of this is from Jakarta. Health Ministry has also directed hospitals to collect information about all medicines prescribed by doctors to children.

Earlier in Gambia, about 70 children died after consuming cough syrup. The World Health Organization has found that many medicines contain diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which can seriously affect the kidneys. These syrups were manufactured by Maiden Pharmaceuticals from Haryana, India. Subsequently, the Drugs Control General of India (DCGI) started an investigation against four syrups of this company.