Gov’t to Provide Free Medication for Kidney Failure Patients

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin delivers his press statement after attending the meeting led by President Jokowi at the Presidential Palace, Bogor, West Java, on Monday (10/24). (Photo: PR Office of Cabinet Secretariat / Oji)

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin has announced that the Government will expedite the procurement of Fomepizole, medicine for patients suffering from acute kidney injuries (AKI).

The Minister also said the antidotum would be provided for all the patients for free.

“We will give the medication to all the patients for free,” Budi said as cited from the Ministry’s official website, Tuesday (10/25).

For the record, ten of eleven AKI patients that have taken medicinal syrups suspected for containing certain chemicals are reported to be improving after taking Fomepizole during their treatment at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital.

“We can conclude that this medication [Fomepizole] gives positive effects and the procurement in Indonesia will be expedited in order to save the affected children,” the Minister said.

The Minister also explained that AKI patients could not urinate and even after they were treated with dialysis, the condition got worse. However, after the patients were treated with Fomepizole, they can urinate gradually, he added.

In addition, Budi added, patients who could not urinate started to urinate, while those who were unconscious started to regain consciousness.

Indonesia has procured Fomepizole from Singapore, while Australia, the United States, and Japan will also supply it.

“This is the measure we’ve taken to provide the cure. We will distribute it to all government hospitals who treat AKI patients,” he remarked. (FID/UN)(AW/EP)