An Indonesian court has ordered two companies, Afi Farma and CV Samudera Chemical, to compensate the families of over 200 children who died or were injured after taking toxic cough syrup distributed by them. The families will receive up to 60 million rupiah ($3,850) each. The poisoning led to acute kidney disease and disabilities in some survivors.
Suspicions about the syrup arose in 2022 when children fell seriously ill after consuming what was believed to be ordinary cold medication. Following the deaths, the government withdrew syrup-based medicines from sale and revoked permits for over 1,000 products. Twenty-five families then sued the food and drugs agency, the Health Ministry, and eight pharmaceutical companies.
In a recent judgment, the court held Afi Farma and CV Samudera liable while absolving the Health Ministry and the food and drugs agency of blame. The companies were ordered to pay 50 million rupiah for each death and 60 million rupiah for each injury. The families had initially sought higher compensation.
Investigations showed the syrups contained ethylene glycol (EG), a potentially harmful chemical. Afi Farma officials were previously convicted of negligence for failing to test the ingredients provided by their supplier. The company has denied any wrongdoing.
Similar incidents of child deaths due to contaminated cough syrups have been reported in The Gambia and Uzbekistan in the past. International standards deem high concentrations of EG unsafe for consumption.
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