The Kerala government has initiated an investigation following claims that expired doses of Remdesivir were administered to patients suffering from Nipah virus in previous years. Health Minister K Muraleedharan announced on Friday that further actions would depend on the findings of an expert committee currently examining these allegations. The inquiry aims to determine if any fatalities were linked to the use of expired medication and whether patients experienced adverse effects as a result.

Muraleedharan’s comments came in response to a submission made by Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan in the Assembly. The minister revealed that Remdesivir procured in 2021 had an expiry date of May 2023 and may have been given to patients at Kozhikode Medical College until 2025. He emphasised that no comments would be made until the expert committee completes its report.

During his address to the media, Muraleedharan noted that there were significant concerns regarding the administration of the medicine post-expiry. However, he clarified that the quality and efficacy of Remdesivir itself were not in question, focusing instead on the potential misuse of expired doses.

Details of the Procurement Process

Muraleedharan recounted the procurement process during a previous Nipah outbreak, stating that attempts to source Remdesivir from various locations in India were unsuccessful due to expired stocks. The Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited subsequently informed the government about available supplies in Bahrain, which were procured within 48 hours. He mentioned that patients who received the medicine within its validity period had shown signs of recovery.

The expert committee, led by Dr Aravind, is tasked with conducting a thorough investigation without pre-emptive conclusions. The committee will scrutinise the procurement and supply processes, including the roles of intermediaries and the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited. Additionally, it will explore whether any agents were involved in the procurement of the drug.

Muraleedharan also highlighted a discrepancy regarding the packaging of the medicine, which reportedly displayed an expiry date but omitted the manufacturing date. Both details are typically required on pharmaceutical packaging, and this inconsistency will be investigated. The government will also look into claims that the medicine supplied to patients was labelled for clinical trial use.

Impact of the Investigation on Public Health

The inquiry is particularly significant given the context of the Nipah virus, which can spread between animals and humans, with fruit bats serving as its natural carriers. In 2023, six cases of Nipah were reported, resulting in two fatalities. The situation in subsequent years has also raised concerns, with additional deaths reported among diagnosed patients in 2024 and 2025.

Muraleedharan stated that the Directorate of Medical Education and the Directorate of Health Services have been instructed to gather information on all patients who received Remdesivir under similar circumstances. The findings of this investigation could have serious implications for public health and the management of future outbreaks.

As the government awaits the expert committee’s findings, Muraleedharan reiterated that further decisions regarding the allegations would be made based on the report. The involvement of foreign pharmaceutical companies in the state’s procurement processes will also be scrutinised, as the government seeks to ensure transparency and accountability in its health services.

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