Parents in Kerala’s Palakkad district got a shock this week when they discovered that the paracetamol syrup given to their children at a government health centre had already expired. Seven families have lodged formal complaints, and the district health authorities have ordered an investigation into how the out-of-date medicine reached the dispensary shelf.
The incident took place on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at the Primary Health Centre at Puthucode, near Vadakkenchery in Palakkad district. Several children had been brought to the centre for routine primary immunisation, and paracetamol syrup was given to them afterwards, as is common practice to manage fever after vaccination. It was only later that some parents checked the bottle and found that the syrup had expired in October 2026, about a month earlier.
How the lapse came to light
According to reports, the problem was spotted by the parents themselves. A few of them noticed the expiry date printed on the bottle and immediately alerted the other families waiting at the centre. The health centre replaced the medicine after receiving the complaints, but by then several children had already been given the expired syrup.
As many as seven parents have lodged complaints so far. The exact number of children who received the expired medicine is still not clear, and health officials are trying to trace every bottle that was handed out.
Workers of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) staged a protest at the centre, accusing the health staff of negligence and demanding action against those responsible.
What health officials have said
Health officials have said the expired syrup was dispensed inadvertently and that steps have been taken to retrieve all the affected bottles. The District Medical Officer has launched an investigation, which will look into how the expired stock remained in the dispensary and why it was not removed before the immunisation session.
No official statement has yet said whether any child fell ill after taking the syrup, and no case of harm has been reported so far. The investigation is expected to fix responsibility and check whether similar expired stock exists at other centres in the district.
Why expired medicine is a serious concern
Paracetamol syrup is one of the most commonly given medicines to children in India, usually for fever and pain after vaccination. Doctors say an expired syrup may lose its strength, which means it may not bring the fever down as it should. In some cases, expired liquid medicines can also change in composition, which is why pharmacists advise against using them after the printed date.
- Always check the expiry date and batch number on the bottle before giving medicine to a child.
- Do not use a syrup that has changed colour, smell or thickness, even if it is within its expiry date.
- If a child has been given expired medicine, contact a doctor or the nearest health centre and keep the bottle for reference.
Not the first such case in Kerala
The Palakkad incident comes just over a month after a similar case in the state. On October 6, 2026, a four-year-old girl in Attingal suffered severe skin reactions after she was given expired medicine at the Attingal Government Homeopathic Hospital. In that case, the hospital authorities admitted the lapse and the District Medical Officer ordered an investigation. The parents said the ointment prescribed to the child had expired in March, several months earlier.
In the Attingal case, the hospital said the expired stock had been set aside for disposal but was mistakenly placed back on the dispensing rack. Whether a similar mix-up happened at Puthucode is something the current investigation will have to establish.
What happens next
The District Medical Officer’s investigation is now the key next step. Parents and local groups will be watching for action against the staff responsible for the lapse, and a check across health centres in Palakkad to make sure no other expired medicines are still on the shelves. The health department has said it is retrieving all the affected bottles, but the families want a clear answer on how many children were given the syrup and whether they need any follow-up care.
FAQs
What happened at the Puthucode health centre?
Children who came for primary immunisation on November 11, 2026, were allegedly given paracetamol syrup that had expired in October 2026. Seven parents have lodged complaints, and the District Medical Officer has ordered an investigation.
How many children received the expired syrup?
The exact number is still unclear. Seven parents have complained so far, and health officials are tracing all the bottles that were handed out.
Has any child fallen ill?
No case of illness has been reported so far. Health officials have said steps are being taken to retrieve all the affected bottles.
What should parents do if their child was given the syrup?
Parents should contact a doctor or the nearest health centre, keep the bottle for reference, and watch the child for fever or any unusual reaction.
Has this happened in Kerala before?
Yes. In October 2026, a four-year-old in Attingal suffered skin reactions after being given expired medicine at a government homeopathic hospital, and the hospital admitted the lapse.
The investigation into the Palakkad incident is under way, and the findings will show whether this was a one-off error or a sign of a wider gap in medicine stock checks at primary health centres.
