Families sue Indonesian govt over cough syrup deaths

Cough syrup bottles collected from the public are seen in Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, where 70 children died after taking medicine made by an Indian pharmaceutical company earlier this year. Indonesia has seen a spike in acute kidney conditions and at least 199 deaths, mostly children, prompting an investigation and ban on some liquid medicine sales. (AFP File Photo)

JAKARTA: A dozen Indonesian families whose relatives died or were injured after consuming tainted cough syrups have sued the government and companies accused of supplying the products.

The country has seen a spike in cases of acute kidney injury since August, with the deaths of at least 199 people, mostly children, prompting a probe and ban on some liquid medicine sales.