President Jokowi Gives Directives on Measures to Address Drugs Linked to Kidney Failure

President Jokowi leads a limited meeting at Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Monday (10/24). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Oji)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Monday (10/24) at Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java led a limited meeting with a number of Ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet discussing the issue of medicinal syrups containing ingredients linked to fatal acute kidney failure.

During the meeting, President Jokowi delivered several directives aimed at protecting public health.

The Head of State ordered Minister of Health to halt sales of medicines which allegedly cause kidney failure, while waiting for the results of investigation conducted by the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM).

“Do it in open and transparent manners, while taking into account prudence and objectivity,” he said, while ordering the BPOM to withdraw and stop the circulation of medicinal syrups that have been proven to contain ingredients linked to kidney injury.

“It would be better of the name of the products are announced and informed to the public,” he added.

In addition, President Jokowi also ordered Ministry of Health to conduct clinical trials to investigate all factors contributing to kidney failure in children, be it from the medicines or other external factors, while calling on his Cabinet to prepare free healthcare service including, medicines for acute kidney injury patients. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/UN) (RAS/EP)