Expat known as ‘common man’s doctor’ passes away due to COVID-19

Muscat: An Indian doctor in Oman who treated hundreds of expatriates in the country at very low fees, so that they could afford his services, has passed away after contracting COVID-19, at the age of 76.

Dr Rajendran Nair, who worked at the Abu Hani Medical Clinic in Ruwi, was mourned by many of his former patients as well as members of Oman’s expatriate community, having lived in the Sultanate for more than 40 years.

“His clinic was always crowded because he was a very good doctor, and charged very reasonable fees,” said PM Jabir, the community welfare secretary of the Indian Social Club in Muscat. “When expats who could not afford medical treatment came to him, he would charge them just 500 baiza or a Rial, and if they could not afford that, he would waive their medical fees.

“He had access to many good quality medicines, and made sure they were always reasonably priced,” he added. “He would not ask people to undergo unnecessary tests if they had any ailments. When he first set up his practice, malaria and chickenpox were quite common conditions, and he would always have the required medicines on hand to give his patients. Many nationals also came to him because he was a very dedicated and skilled doctor.”

Jabir added that the departure of Dr Nair was a ‘big blow’ to the expatriate and medical community in Oman.

“He had contracted coronavirus a few days ago, and had first been moved to Al Nahda Hospital, after which he was moved to Royal Hospital,” he said. “Hundreds of people were praying for him to get better, because he managed to touch so many lives and treat so many patients. When he passed away, so many people were weeping because he has done so much for people in Oman.

“His departure is a big blow to the expatriate community here,” added Jabir. “Back then, there were not so many blue-collar workers from Bangladesh, but there were many from Pakistan, and Dr Nair would not discriminate between one community and the other. To him, they were all his patients, and if they told him they could not afford his treatment, he would ask them not to worry about it.”