News analysis

Drugs linked to kidney injuries among kids show Indonesia’s pharmaceutical industry in poor light

Health officers inspect medicinal syrups at a pharmacy in Bandung, Indonesia, on Oct 26, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS
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JAKARTA - Indonesia’s pharmaceutical industry has come under fire over the presence of toxic chemicals in syrups that allegedly caused acute kidney injuries among children and subsequent deaths.

As the death toll climbed to 159 and total cases rose to 304 nationwide on Monday, more evidence has emerged that toxic chemicals were the main culprits.

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