FAMILIES of Indonesian children who died because of tainted cough syrup demanded restitution as an Indonesian court this week started hearing their class-action lawsuit against government agencies and pharmaceutical firms.
About 200 children have died of acute kidney injury in Indonesia since last year and authorities have said two ingredients, ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol, found in some syrup-based paracetamol medications are linked to the illness.
The two ingredients are used in antifreeze, brake fluids and other industrial applications, but also as a cheaper alternative in some pharmaceutical products to glycerine, a solvent or thickening agent in many cough syrups.
They can be toxic and can lead to acute kidney injury.
The 25 families are suing the health and finance ministries, the drugs regulator and at least eight drug companies for up to 3.4b rupiah (US$224K), Reuters reported.
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