Indonesian Court Orders Compensation for Families Affected by Toxic Cough Syrup

An Indonesian court ordered two local companies to pay up to 60 million rupiah to families whose children died or were injured due to toxic cough syrup. Over 200 children died and 120 survived with disabilities. The court found Afi Farma and CV Samudera Chemical at fault but cleared the health ministry and BPOM.

An Indonesian court has mandated two local companies to compensate families affected by fatal or debilitating toxic cough syrup. The ruling states that each family will receive up to 60 million rupiah, following the deaths of more than 200 children and the survival of about 120 more with severe disabilities.

The court's decision pinpointed negligence among pharmaceutical companies, notably drugmaker Afi Farma and supplier CV Samudera Chemical. The health ministry and the country's food and drugs agency (BPOM) were absolved of any wrongdoing. Families had originally demanded significantly higher compensations.

East Java-based Afi Farma was previously found guilty by a criminal court for not testing ingredient concentrations, leading to syrups with dangerously high levels of ethylene glycol. This contamination has also been linked to child fatalities in Gambia and Uzbekistan, according to the World Health Organization.

(With inputs from agencies.)