MoH Orders Pharmacies to Stop Selling Syrup-Based Medicine Due to String of Acute Kidney Injury Among Children

JAKARTADAILY.ID – Indonesian Ministry of Health has ordered all pharmacies to temporarily not sell over-the-counter drugs in the form of syrup to the public.

This is done as an anticipatory measure due to the increase in cases of atypical progressive acute kidney injury (AKI) in children in Indonesia.

''The Ministry of Health urges the public to treat children, while not taking drugs in liquid/syrup form without consulting health workers,'' said Ministry of Health spokesman dr. Syahril in a press release.

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''As an alternative, you can use other dosage forms such as tablets, capsules, suppositories (anal), or others,'' he added.

dr. Syahril said 206 cases were reported as of October 18, 2022, originating from 20 provinces with a death rate of 99 children, where the mortality rate of patients treated at the National Central General Hospital dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo (RSCM) reached 65 percent.

dr. Syahril said that the Ministry of Health is currently investigating and conducting research on the probable causes.

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"COVID-19 infection. Because AKI disorders generally attack children aged under 6 years, while the vaccination program has not yet targeted children aged 1-5 years,'' said Syahril.