Eminent GP and NHS campaigner Dr Kailash Chand dies

Long-term Pulse contributor Dr Kailash Chand has died suddenly, leaving GP colleagues mourning a lifelong mentor and the NHS a staunch defender.

Dr Chand, a renowned and passionate GP who remained active in campaigning, politics, writing and policy long after his retirement from clinical work, died in Greater Manchester where he lived.

His son, Dr Aseem Malhotra, shared the news on Twitter that he had suffered a cardiac arrest at home late yesterday afternoon.

Hundreds of tributes have already poured in for Dr Chand, who also blogged regularly for Pulse over the decades.

Dr Chand, who died aged 73, moved to England from India in 1978, and went onto dedicate his life to one of service to the NHS.

As well as routinely contributing to various forms of media, he had been named an honourary vice president of the BMA, of which he also sat as deputy chair of the council. He was also awarded an OBE for his service.

He was a vocal defender of a public and sufficiently funded NHS, who would always do all he could to provide morale to the workforce, including during the current Covid pandemic.

Dr Chand, who was also a well-known figure in his home area of Tameside and worked closely on local and political issues such as homelessness, was passionate about anti-racism.

His many blogs for Pulse often divided opinion, but few readers could disagree with the energy and commitment he gave to his words.

Among the many fellow GPs, organisational bodies, political leaders and members of the local community offering their condolences were former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who shared his ‘sadness’ at the loss of the ‘true socialist who always defended our NHS’, and thanked him for ‘a wonderful life of care’.

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth recalled reading his views in Pulse:

Former shadow Chancellor John McDonnell summed him up as a ‘courageous voice speaking out to expose the impact of poverty and inequality on people’s health’.

Further tributes heralded him as an ‘icon’, ‘a pillar of our society’, an ‘immense worth to humanity’ and ‘a visionary’.

Dr Chand is survived by his cardiologist son Dr Malhotra. His beloved wife Dr Anisha Malhotra, also a GP, died in November 2018.

Dr Chand was a long-term friend of Pulse, and a friend of so many. His loss will be keenly felt, and his presence sorely missed. If you would like to contribute further comments in tribute, do send them to Ellie at [email protected].