Loss of the ‘Doctor of The Poor’

BY OMNIYA ALI

Waves of sadness have rippled throughout the Egyptian community upon the loss of a highly influential life. Mohamed Mashally also known as the ‘doctor of the poor’, has recently passed away leaving behind a never forgotten legacy. Mashally passed away on July 28^th after dedicating almost fifty years of his life serving those in need. In a damaged economy where plenty of people in poverty are unable to receive the right amount of care or attention, the ‘doctor of the poor’ was aware that his role as a caretaker was beyond the material aspect of life. Mashally took it upon himself to provide that care for poor people in remote villages near where he lived in Tanta, for as little as 10 pounds ($0.83) for those that could pay it but often waived the fee for those that could not. In an interview with Deutsche Welle he expressed “Medicine is a humanitarian profession and not a commercial one.”

When asked about his inspiration for such a selfless attitude, Mashally shared a story he encountered in his early days as a doctor. A ten-year-old diabetic boy needed his insulin shot, but his mother found herself deliberating between buying his shot or feeding all her children with what little money she had that night. Upon realizing the burden he posed on his mother, the little boy set himself on fire to alleviate the dilemma. Mashally was quick to cover him in a blanket and try to save him, unfortunately the boy died in his arms, and from that day, he decided to devote his knowledge to treating the poor. “I pledged to God that I would not take a penny from a poor person and that I would remain in my clinic to help the poor.” Mashally who specialized in endemic illnesses, bilharzia and worm diseases, which mainly affect individuals of low income, then kept his promise and served this demographic to the day he died at 76 years old.

Although his deeply altruistic actions are a direct reflection of his character, they can also be traced back to several issues such as maldistributed wealth, an unstable economy and traces of the damage of post-colonialism. Mashally had the means and the qualifications to become a rich accomplished doctor, yet he chose his position. Having been raised poor, his father planted the seed of compassion to the less fortunate in him, and that continued to grow to his last day on this earth. According to the 2020 Index of Economic Freedom, Egypt is ranked 11^th among the 14 countries in the Middle East and North African region, as “its overall score is well below the regional and world averages.” Although the reform that occurred in 2011 primarily sought the improvement of Egyptian living standards and welfare, as per the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, the trade deficit is only growing, further expanding poverty levels “as a result of a government more interested in serving itself than it is in serving them.”

Circling back to Canadian physicians, the infinitely difficult process of application, acceptance and studying at a medical school in Canada as if not enough is accompanied by crushing debts. Although the average salary for a doctor in Canada can range from about $300,000 to $700,000 annually, depending on the specialty, the number of years required to reach that level and amount of money can be rather daunting for most. A medical student enters the field with an abundance of compassion and generosity, but the fatigue and burnout implemented by the field produces robots incapable of expressing adequate emotions and empathy. A society without caretakers would simply collapse, however, the idea of working for free would never cross a doctor’s mind in North America. That can be easily attributed to the costs associated with the required education. The appropriate amount of support needs to be provided from the government to those caregivers in order to generate a positive feedback loop of benevolence and care within the society.

In admiration of Mohamed Mashaly’s last wish that his work would be carried on by others once he passed, let us be images of humanity and ethics just as he was.