Indonesia Bans Syrup Medicines Because of Mysterious Kidney Disease

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Following the recent information related to acute kidney injury (AKI) in children, the Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia appealed to the citizens to temporarily stop consuming any medicated syrup including paracetamol.

The ministry has taken this step as a precaution measure as the investigation process is still ongoing to know more about the kidney injury. The health care providers are therefore asked to stop prescribing medicated syrup.

"We ask all health workers to tentatively refrain from prescribing medicines or giving medicines in liquid form or syrup until the results of the research are complete," the spokesperson of the Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia dr Mohammad Syahril said at a press conference on Wednesday (19/10/2022).

"We take a step to investigate the assumption to save our children. Therefore, we make this limitation."

Syahril added that all pharmacies are temporarily asked not to freely sell medicine in a form of liquid or syrup except with doctor's approval.

"The Ministry of Health appeals to all citizens not to consume the medicine in a form of liquid or syrup without consulting with the doctor," Syahril said.

As an alternative, citizens are allowed to consume the medicine in other forms such as tablets, capsules, or suppositories.

Syahril revealed that the tentative rule not to sell or consume medicated syrup is applied to all kinds of medicated syrup, not only paracetamol.

"By the circular issued by the Director General of Health Services, all medicated or liquids (which are temporarily suspended), are not just paracetamol," said Syahril. 

He suspects that the problem is not the substance of the medicine itself, but "other components". 

"So in the meantime, the Ministry of Health is taking steps to save more cases by temporarily stopping them."

On the same occasion, Syahril said the result of the investigation including the compound assumed to be the cause of AKI might be revealed next week.

"We cannot publish because it is still under investigation. We will publish it next week," he said.

On a different opportunity, Syahril said that this kidney disease had nothing to do with COVID-19 vaccination or infection.

"So far the case of acute kidney injury is not related to COVID-19 vaccine and infection," the spokesperson of the Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia, dr Mohammad Syahril said at a press conference on Tuesday, 18 October 2022.

Syahril explained that the laboratory investigation to find the cause of AKI is still being carried out. The Ministry of Health made sure his team cooperated with some epidemiologists, the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) Republic of Indonesia, and the Forensic Laboratory Center (Puslabfor).

An epidemiological investigation was carried out through supervision and examination to determine the infections that cause acute kidney disorders in children.

The investigation included a throat swab, anal swab, blood check, and possible intoxication.

"Right now, the Ministry of Health with the middle team is doing the epidemiological investigation of the citizen. The team will ask about the types of medicine consumed and also the disease suffered (within) 10 days before getting sick or entering the hospital. We hope that we can get the result soon as information for the following treatment," Syahril explained.

Regarding this issue, the Ministry of the Health Republic of Indonesia appeals to citizens to be wise in consuming the medicine. As learned in the case in Gambia, citizens are asked to consume medicine wisely according to the doctor's prescription or the information on the packaging.

Simple steps from the Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia to make sure we consume the medicine in the right way:

1. Consume the medicine according to the usage rules.

2. Do not consume the medicine more than the given dose.

3. Read the warning on the packaging.

4. Make sure the medicine is not expired.

5. Do not consume medicine that has been opened and kept for a long time.

6. Avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics to prevent resistance.

7. Report the side effect of the medicine you consume to the nearest health care or through the BPOM Mobile application.

8. Get medicines from official or licensed pharmaceutical service facilities.

Writer: Adelina Wahyu Martanti

Diviya Agatha contributed to this report.