Jakarta. Indonesia’s pharmaceutical agency has suspended distribution of an anaesthetic distributed by Kalbe Farma after two patients died while undergoing surgery at a hospital run by Siloam Hospitals in Tangerang. The Lippo Group is the parent company of both the Jakarta Globe and Siloam Hospitals.

Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) chief Roy Sparringa said on Tuesday that the anaesthetic would be withdrawn from the market and recalled from healthcare facilities pending an investigation.

The anesthetic, Buvanest, is produced by Kalbe Farma, a major domestic pharmaceutical company.

Buvanest was used during two surgeries last week in the Siloam hospital.

Kalbe Farma spokesman Vidjongstius said it the company was complying with BPOM’s order to halt Buvanest production.

Siloam Hospital said the surgeries followed correct procedure.

Corporate communications general manager Heppi Nurfianto said that the two patients were injected with Buvanest Spinal before undergoing caesar and urology surgery on Feb. 11.  They were taken to the ICU for treatment but died the next day, Heppi said.

“We’re now waiting for the results of the investigation,” Heppi said on Wednesday. “Then we can take the next steps to a prevent similar thing from ever happening again. The important thing is that we have carried out the right surgical procedure.”

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