The Egyptian Doctors Syndicate has mourned the death of Dr. Mohamed Mashali, 76, widely known as “the doctor of the poor” due to his work in impoverished communities.

Mashali died on Monday in the city of Tanta, having suffered from circulatory collapse.

Born in 1944 in Beheira, Mashali graduated from Cairo University’s medical school in 1967, specialising in internal medicine, paediatrics and fever.

He went on to work in a number of rural health centres and medical facilities affiliated with the health ministry and in 1975 he opened his own clinic in Tanta.

Over the years he became famous for his focus on providing health care to the residents of nearby poor villages. He charged EGP 5 ($0.30) for a check-up – later raised to EGP 10 – although he often waived fees for those who could not afford them, even buying poorer patients their medications.

A street in Tanta is named after him.