25 Families Sue Govt, Pharma Companies Over Death Of Children By Toxic Cough Syrups

Twenty-five families of the Indonesian children who died after consuming contaminated cough syrups have filed a class-action against the government and other pharmaceutical companies demanding damages.

According to reports, about two hundred children in Indonesia died in 2022 of acute kidney injury after taking some cough syrup and paracetamol brands that contain high amount of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol.

Indonesia’s ministry of health and the country’s food and drug agency have been sued by the families to pay compensation to the families.

Awan Puryadi, lawyer to the families told Reuters on Tuesday that his clients wanted compensation of up to 3.4bn rupiah ($224,570) for the damages.

Some pharmaceutical companies are also being sued alongside the government agencies for their role in the death of the children.

Ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol are both chemicals that are used commonly as antifreeze in automotive industry and can be found in paints.

The coolant found in radiators of cars and brake fluids are made from ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol.

Though they are used in the automotive and other manufacturing industries, they are cheap alternative thickening in some cough syrups and paracetamol.

A little amount is not harmful but when consumed in high quantity, it becomes toxic, resulting in poisoning and death.

Prime Business Africa earlier reported that The Gambia raised the alarm about the contamination of ethylene and diethylene glycol after some 66 children died of acute kidney after consuming some Indian syrups made with Ethylene and diethylene glycol.

READ ALSO: 66 Deaths In The Gambia: India Says Maiden Pharmaceuticals Complied With Standards

The Indonesian government also took steps in banning the sale of liquid medicines and syrups after some 99 children died of the same acute kidney injuries.

Government in Uzbekistan also banned the sale of cough syrup in the country after they were found to be containing the glycols.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) raised concerns of high amount of the glycols in cough syrups from India and asked countries to be careful.

India health authorities promised to investigate the issues.

After investigations, Prime Business Africa reported that the Indian health authorities said the drugs from their pharmaceutical companies did not violate any rule concerning the use of ethylene and diethylene glycol.