Kerala Probes Nipah Medicines Used Under Previous Government

A new political and medical controversy has erupted in Kerala after Health Minister K. Muraleedharan questioned the drugs given to Nipah patients under the former government led by Pinarayi Vijayan. The minister raised concerns about possible use of clinical trial medicines and supplies that lacked manufacturing dates.

In Kozhikode, Muraleedharan told reporters that the government had ordered a thorough investigation based on information from the Kozhikode Medical College superintendent. The inquiry will cover foreign drug companies linked to the supply, middlemen who helped arrange the deals, and the financial benefits they received.

The development follows the minister's Assembly statement on Thursday. He said Remdesivir vials bought in 2021, which had an expiry date of May 30, 2023, were used in the following years.

The Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited purchased 3,000 vials on June 3, 2021, at a cost of Rs 42 lakh. Medical college records show 102 vials were used in 2023-24, 34 in 2024-25 and 10 in 2025-26.

Separately, 50 vials used in 2026 were brought in from Bahrain on June 12, 2026, the minister said.

A medical board chaired by Dr. R. Aravind, head of the infectious diseases department at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, has been set up. Its task is to find out whether the suspected use of expired drugs contributed to patient deaths and whether other recipients suffered adverse reactions.

Muraleedharan further stated that a letter from Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan had only advised against providing patients cheaper medicines. According to him, the letter did not mention clinical trial drugs or expired medicines.

He said the government would take suitable action after all facts are established by the probe. The incident took place during 2016-26, when Pinarayi Vijayan was the chief of the state.