News

Indonesia Bans All Syrup, Liquid Medicine After Children’s Deaths

The Indonesian government announced on Wednesday a ban on all syrup and liquid medicine prescription and over-the-counter sales, after the deaths of nearly 100 children from acute kidney injury this year.

The ban comes as the Southeast Asian country’s health authorities probe an unexplained rise since January in the number of children’s deaths from acute kidney injury (AKI).

It also comes after nearly 70 children died in The Gambia earlier this year, also from AKI, in a scandal linked to four Indian-made cough syrups.

The Indonesian food and drugs agency said the syrups imported into The Gambia were not available in the Southeast Asian country.

“Until today, we have received 206 reported cases from 20 provinces with 99 deaths,” the health ministry’s spokesperson Syahril Mansyur told a press briefing.

“As a precaution, the ministry has asked all health workers in health facilities not to prescribe liquid medicine or syrup temporarily… we also asked drug stores to temporarily stop non-prescription liquid medicine or syrup sales until the investigation is completed,” he added.

The rise in cases of AKI began in January this year, and accelerated further since late August, the ministry spokesperson said, adding that a probe was launched last week.

“Since late August 2022, the ministry and the pediatrician association have received increasing reports of acute kidney injury. The jump is sharp,” the spokesperson said.

Most of the cases reported in Indonesia involved children aged under 18, mainly toddlers under five years old, the ministry said.

Before the recent rise, the ministry typically saw one or two cases of AKI a month.

Sources: AFP

Adib Mohd

Recent Posts

Step In, Stand Out, Converse Introduces Malaysia’s All Star Class of 2026

Are you ready to meet your new classmates? Converse Malaysia will bring you into a… Read More

16 hours ago

IKEA Malaysia Crowns Three Ultimate Cook-Off Champions

The heat was on and creativity was unleashed. On 4 and 5 October 2025, over… Read More

17 hours ago

Maxim E-hailing Shares Free Car Seats for Best Drivers, Pioneering Child Passenger Safety in Kuala Terengganu

Maxim E-hailing Shares Free Car Seats for Best Drivers, Pioneering Child Passenger Safety in Kuala… Read More

17 hours ago

47th ASEAN Summit? Heart-Melting Moments, Laughter and Unity in Kuala Lumpur!

On October 26, Malaysia took the spotlight as the host of the 47th ASEAN Summit.… Read More

17 hours ago

Viral Diplomacy: The Unforgettable Moments of the 47th ASEAN Summit

The 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur was more than a platform for high-level policy… Read More

20 hours ago

4 Ways Garmin Helps You Prioritise Health & Self-Care This Pinktober

Because taking care of yourself isn’t just a trend, it’s a lifestyle. October might be… Read More

1 day ago

This website uses cookies.