Kathmandu— Senior physician Dr. Khagendra Bahadur Shrestha has passed away. The renowned doctor, who served as a patron at Blue Cross Hospital, died on Thursday morning at the age of 89.

Dr. Shrestha was known for providing medical care not only to the public but also to the royal family. He served as the personal physician to King Birendra of Nepal and also attended to the late Queen Ratna Rajyalaxmi Devi Shah. Due to his role as a royal physician, he was often referred to as the ‘Royal Physician.’ His passing has been described as a great loss to Nepal’s medical community.

The Blue Cross Hospital, where Dr. Shrestha served, expressed sadness upon his death. In a statement, the hospital stated that his contributions to the health sector would be remembered with respect and admiration for generations.

Dr. Shrestha’s body will be kept at his residence in Kupandol for public tributes, with the final rites scheduled for Friday. His family confirmed the details of the funeral arrangements.

Dr. Shrestha began serving the royal family when Crown Prince Birendra was still a prince and was formally awarded the title of ‘Royal Physician’ in 1996 (Bikram Sambat 2053). Following the royal family massacre in 2001, he retired from royal service, though he continued to serve as a contract physician for the royal family for several years. He had also provided medical services to the late Queen Ratna until recently.

Apart from his role with the royal family, Dr. Shrestha was also actively involved in other important medical and social endeavors. He held positions such as a medical assessor for the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, founder-chairman of the Khagendra Sports Foundation, and senior vice-president of the Nepal Leprosy Relief Association.

Born in 1935 (Bikram Sambat 1992) in the Jaishideval area of Kathmandu, Dr. Shrestha had an exceptional academic background. He passed his SLC exams in the first division in 1950 (Bikram Sambat 2007) and later studied medicine at King George’s Medical College in Lucknow, India, from which he graduated with an MBBS degree in 1961.

Dr. Shrestha’s career took him on an extraordinary journey. Early in his medical career, he worked with the International Red Cross in Mustang, where he treated the Khampa rebels. His exceptional work caught the attention of the Nepal Army, and he was soon enlisted as a physician in the military. He continued his service in the army while maintaining his private practice in Kathmandu, serving both the military and the civilian population.

The Nepal Medical Association has expressed its sorrow following Dr. Shrestha’s passing. In a statement, the association expressed deep grief over the loss of such a dedicated and hardworking physician, acknowledging his immense contribution to the medical profession in Nepal.