TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Health Ministry, on Monday, has been instructed by President Joko Widodo or Jokowi to explore every possible factor that caused the plethora of acute kidney injury cases.

“We must confirm beyond doubt. Clinical trials must be conducted, really look into the cellular laboratory in the affected kidney organ so that we can determine what causes acute kidney failure, especially among children," the President said on October 24.

This was conveyed at the meeting the President held at the Bogor Presidential Palace specifically to address the handling of the acute kidney injuries that had claimed 133 children as of Monday.

Jokowi also instructed the Health Minister to temporarily stop the circulation of drugs that are suspected to be dangerous until there a further investigation is conducted by the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM).

The President ordered the BPOM to withdraw all syrup medicines that are truly proven to contain medicinal ingredients that conclusively cause acute kidney injury. He also specifically wanted each and every medical brand that was proven to be lethal to be publicly announced.

As previously reported on Monday, the Indonesian Ministry of Health announced that it has brought in an antidote from Singapore to help cure a large number of patients – comprising primarily of children – who are suffering from acute kidney injury.

The main suspect behind the deaths of 133 children as of October 22 is believed to be caused by unintended toxins contained in syrup medicines.

Siti Nadia Tarmizi, Health Ministry spokesperson revealed that the antidote is fomepizole which acts as the antidote to ethylene glycol poisoning, the substance causing multiple kidney failure cases.

ANTARA

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