Geographical Condition of 90 Percent of Oceans, BPOM Asked to Strictly Monitor Ethylene Glycol Contaminated Drugs in Riau Islands

Illustration of surveillance of several foreign-flagged vessels that violated the provisions of being drowned by officers in Natuna waters, Riau Islands (Kepri). (Between)

RIAU ISLAND - The Food and Drug Research Agency (BPOM) was asked to closely monitor drug circulation in the Riau Islands. The geographical condition of the Riau Islands, which is 96 percent of the ocean, is a major challenge so it needs extra supervision.

The request was submitted by the Ombudsman following cases of acute kidney failure in Indonesia which are creeping up. This is followed by data that the Riau Islands geographically consist of 2,408 islands spread over seven regencies or cities.

"Especially in the outer islands, such as Natuna, Anambas, and Lingga. In the future, it must be actively controlled", said the Chief Ombudsman for the Riau Islands, Lagat Parroha Patar Siadari, quoted from Antara, Friday, October 28.

Lagat also asked the Riau Islands BPOM to routinely raid pharmacies to ensure that there are no more sales of drugs in the form of syrup which is prohibited by the Ministry of Health. In particular, children's syrups containing Ethylene Glycol (EG) and Diethylene Glycol (DEG) contaminants are above the threshold.

He ensured that shortly he would call BPOM Kepri to find out the extent of supervision carried out by the institution in preventing the circulation of dangerous drugs, one of which could trigger acute kidney failure in children.

"Nationally, we have asked BPOM to closely monitor pharmacies so that there is no sale of syrup for children containing EG and DEG", he said.

Furthermore, he is concerned about the death of six children in the Riau Islands triggered by acute kidney failure, and one other child is in intensive care.

Lagat assessed that this problem needs to be handled seriously by the government so that there are no more victims due to acute kidney failure.

Even the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia, he continued, has urged the government to immediately determine the status of Extraordinary Events (KLB) in cases of acute kidney failure in children.

He also hopes that socialization in the context of preventing cases of acute kidney failure in children can be carried out at the village level.

"The public has the right to information related to the handling of cases of acute kidney failure to its prevention because until now the government has not provided a comprehensive explanation of the causes of acute kidney failure in children", he said.