Two junior public health nurses at the Puthukkode primary health centre near Vadakkenchery in Kerala’s Palakkad district have been suspended after infants were allegedly given expired paracetamol syrup following vaccination, according to a report by Times of India – Kochi.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, when infants below one year of age visited the public health centre for vaccination. Parents later noticed that the paracetamol syrup bottles had expired in October and raised complaints with health authorities.
The suspension followed an inquiry ordered by the district medical officer. The report said that seven parents returned the bottles to the health centre after discovering the expiry issue. The facility reportedly admitted that the expired medicine had been distributed inadvertently and began steps to retrieve the bottles.
Parents also alleged that staff replaced the medicine after they brought the expiry issue to the health centre’s attention. The report did not specify how many infants received the syrup or whether any child suffered an adverse health effect.
The incident has put attention on basic medicine-safety procedures at primary health centres, which serve as the first point of contact for many residents in smaller towns and rural areas. Such facilities must manage the receipt, storage and distribution of medicines alongside vaccination and other routine public-health services.
The reported lapse also raises questions about stock monitoring at the facility. Expiry checks are a routine part of medicine distribution, but the available report does not establish when the syrup was received, when it was placed in circulation or why the expired stock remained available for distribution.
The health centre reportedly initiated steps to retrieve the bottles after the complaints were made. The district medical officer’s inquiry is expected to establish the circumstances that led to the distribution and determine whether further administrative action is required.
The episode triggered protests by DYFI workers, who accused the health staff of negligence and demanded action against those responsible. The suspension of the two nurses is the immediate disciplinary measure reported in connection with the incident.
The case highlights the role of public health centres not only in delivering vaccinations but also in maintaining safe and traceable medicine systems. Further details about the inquiry findings, the number of affected infants and any corrective measures will determine the full administrative response.
