Dr. Phag Chand (Late)

Pakistani Sikh Doctor Phag Chand (late) is remembered as a true hero by people of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Dr. Phag Chand widely known as the doctor of the poor was born to a Sikh Malhotra family in 1955 at the Pir Baba village of the Buner district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He was one such doctor who dedicated his whole life to his profession. He succumbed to the deadly Covid disease sacrificing life in the line of duty on May 13 at the age of 65.

He had graduated from Khyber Medical College in 1978 and was awarded the Presidential Award for his academic achievements.

The late doctor gained attention and respect as a dedicated physician when he moved to Buner in early 80s where he spent 10 years providing affordable healthcare to the rural community.

He would charge a mere Rs10 fee and treat the patients affectionately. Later, he continued serving the poor free of cast in District Swabi and Nawshera till his death.

When the word of his low fees spread, he was reportedly approached by the local medical fraternity and asked to increase his consultation fee but Dr. Phag Chand refused to do so. Instead, he provided his services more actively.

Towards the end of his career, his fee was just Rs50 when others would charge much higher.

In the first wave of Covid when his both private clinics were shut down, patients from all over would still visit Dr. Phag Chand at his doorsteps and were never returned without being examined.

Dr. Phag Chand contracted Covid-19 while examining patients in the first wave and breathed his last at the age of 65. His final funeral rituals were held at Ram Bhag in Mardan.