'Fix the System': Indonesia Parents Seek Justice after Cough Syrup Crisis

"Until today I still wake up in the middle of the night and check on him. We almost lost him," 34-year-old Agri said.

Not a priority

Since the government sounded the alarm in October, Indonesia's food and drug agency has recalled 105 products after tests revealed excessive amounts of the two chemicals.

It has also revoked the licenses of six pharmaceutical firms.

Police have launched an investigation into five companies and arrested four suspects.

But the plaintiffs say that is not enough.

"From the beginning, this case was not considered a priority," said Awan Puryadi, the lawyer representing the families.

"All of the victims who are still alive, and are still being treated, must all be covered by the government for the rest of their lives."

They are seeking compensation of two billion rupiahs ($131,000) for every person killed and 1 billion rupiahs for every person injured.

In a hearing last month, parents wore black shirts that read "I thought it was medicine, it was poison".

The next hearing is scheduled for March 9.

One of the accused companies in the lawsuit contacted by AFP denied putting the chemicals in its cough syrups and blamed a distributor for any contamination.

Indonesia's drug regulator, like the WHO, says the chemicals should never be used in syrup medicines because they can be toxic to humans.

But it says in the event of contamination during production, the chemicals can be consumed safely up to a level of 0.1 milligrams per milliliter.

Four other companies named in the lawsuit did not respond to a request for comment and AFP was not able to reach three firms. The seven have not commented publicly on the lawsuit or the allegations.