Kerala government probes use of expired Remdesivir in Nipah patients

The Kerala government has ordered an investigation into the administration of expired Remdesivir to patients, including those suffering from Nipah virus infections. Health Minister K. Muraleedharan informed the State Assembly that Remdesivir vials, which expired on May 30, 2023, were used in hospitals during the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 financial years.

A medical board led by Dr. Aravind, head of the Infectious Diseases Department, has been constituted to determine if the use of these expired drugs contributed to patient deaths or caused adverse effects in others. Records from Kozhikode Medical College Hospital indicated that 102 vials were used in 2023-24, 34 in 2024-25, and 10 in 2025-26 after their expiry date.

The Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited (KMSCL) originally purchased 3,000 vials for 42 lakh rupees in June 2021. While the disclosure highlights significant lapses in drug storage and expiry monitoring, officials noted that a causal link between the expired medicine and specific deaths has not yet been established.