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Ombudsman puts the onus on BPOM, Health Ministry over AKI spike
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An employee collects medicinal syrups that contain paracetamol at a minimarket in South Tangerang, Banten, on Oct.19, 2022. (Antara/Sulthony Hasanuddin )
T
he Indonesian Ombudsman has pointed to potential maladministration by the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) and the Health Ministry in the circulation of medicines that have been linked to the deadly spike in acute kidney injury (AKI) cases among children.
The Ombudsman, which has the authority to oversee the implementation of public services, said the agency had failed to stop the dangerous medicines from being distributed to the public.
The Health Ministry is also considered potentially guilty of maladministration, particularly in its failure to provide transparent health data surrounding the AKI cases. Like state ministers, the BPOM chief is appointed by and answers to the President.
"[We] believe [the AKI spike] to be a humanitarian emergency, as well as the state’s failure to guarantee the safety of the people and the safety of products consumed by the public,” Robert Endi Jaweng of the Ombudsman said during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Since a spike in August, Indonesia has reported 255 cases of AKI and 143 deaths. The cases are thought to be linked to toxic levels of ethylene glycol (EG) and diethylene glycol (DEG) – which are commonly found as contaminants in the solvents of syrup-based medicines.
The Ombudsman said the BPOM had failed to ensure the safety of products during the pre-market stage, since the agency allotted the responsibility of product testing to the pharmaceutical companies.
Read also: Calls mounting for more action as BPOM orders recall of tainted medical syrups
