Twitteratis from the British Indian community and beyond were left in shock by the sudden demise of a prominent NHS activist and award-winning GP Dr Kailash Chand OBE.
His son Dr Aseem Malhotra announced the news on Twitter that his father had suffered a cardiac arrest on July 26 evening.
Dr Kailash Chand OBE was a staunch supporter of the National Health Service (NHS). After he retired from his job as GP in Ashton, he became the first Indian to be elected Deputy Chair of the British Medical Association (BMA).
The Indian medic moved to Britain in 1978 and was honoured with an OBE for services to healthcare in 2010. Most recently, he had been appointed Honorary Professor of Health and Wellbeing by the University of Bolton. He was also a Trustee of the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, a homelessness charity.
Dr Chand was among the most influential British Indian doctors in the UK’s healthcare system, with a career packed with accolades. Since the pandemic, when equality among healthcare providers became a burning issue in the UK, Dr Chand took an active part in highlighting the disproportionate impact of coronavirus on ethnic minorities.
A regular media contributor, he was also highly vocal about structural racism across various platforms.
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Here’s a snapshot of some of the tributes that poured in for the trailblazing campaigner and frontline activist:
"We are shocked and saddened to hear that Prof Kailash Chand OBE FRCGP has passed away. Vice President, former deputy council chair, GPC member and staunch defender of the NHS, his was a life of service to his patients and fellow doctors and all at the BMA will miss him deeply."
- British Medical Association (BMA)
“It’s such a shock to know about the sudden demise of Dr Kailash Chand OBE this evening. He is a pillar of BAPIO-North West. Such a brave courageous value based leader. Our thoughts with Dr Aseem Malhotra.”
- British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) UK
“Kailash was always a true advocate for the NHS, both locally, in Tameside, and at a national level. You will be truly missed by all your friends at Tameside and Glossop IC NHS FT. Our thoughts are with Aseem and family for their very sad loss. Rest in peace, Kailash.”
- Tameside & Glossop Integrated Care (Tameside Hospital NHS)
“Heartbroken about the sudden loss of my dear friend, Kailash. He was everything to me and the NHS was everything to him.”
- Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester
“Manchester India Partnership mourns the sudden passing of our valued board member Kailash Chand OBE. May his soul rest in peace. He was a passionate advocate of health equality & how India & the UK could work together to achieve this. Our thoughts are with his family.”
- Manchester India Partnership