M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) Commissioner Jasra Putra urged the government to stop the circulation of cough medicine from India which the commission alleges caused kidney failures among 131 toddlers and children. This mysterious finding of hundreds of children with kidney failure was first reported by the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI).
"Let's prevent (the circulation of this medicine) until it is thoroughly studied by the Health Ministry, BPOM (Food and Drugs Monitoring Agency) regarding the drug. This product is no small matter, the Ministry of Health must be assertive, if it is true that this drug can be separated from the supervision of licensing and distribution," said Jasra in his statement, Thursday, 13 October.
Jasra said that KPAI called for all drug industries to stop their production if the drug was actually produced in Indonesia or licensed domestically. He hoped that the Ministry of Health would immediately thoroughly investigate IDAI's findings.
"Don't let it spread widely, it is still available for purchase now, or can be a donation, and so on. There must be firmness and clarity to stop and prevent its circulation," said Jasra.
KPAI demands accountability for the distribution and licensing of these drugs because they have been proven to be harmful to children and have been circulating since January.
Up until October 10 this year, IDAI recorded 131 cases where children from the age of 5 up to their teens sustained mysterious acute kidney failure. This data was collected from 14 provincial IDAI branch offices.