Thiruvananthapuram: Eminent haematologist Dr K.A. Salim passed away here on Tuesday. He was 86.

Dr Salim completed his MBBS from Thiruvananthapuram Medical College in 1963 and MD in General Medicine in 1966. He later underwent advanced training abroad and obtained postgraduate qualifications from the Royal College of Physicians, London (1978) and the Royal College of Pathologists, London (1982). He also held several other international fellowships.

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Dr Salim also made outstanding contributions to medical education, serving in various government medical colleges across Kerala and mentoring a large number of students. He was instrumental in establishing the Department of Haematology at Kozhikode Medical College.

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Widely regarded as one of India’s leading experts in haematology, he was also internationally recognised for his work in blood disorders and research.

He also served as an Associate Professor at the College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia, and worked as a consultant with the UK’s National Health Service in London.

His wife is late Pathummal. He is survived by his children Dr Shafeeq (Birmingham, UK), Rafiq (Saudi Arabia), Dr Ashiq, and Dr Sajik (UK). The funeral will be held on Thursday at the Pettah Juma Masjid. His siblings include, Dr. Hakkim, a retired neurologist from Kozhikode Medical College; Dr. Azeem, a dental surgeon at NIMS Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram; Seena Kareem (Thiruvananthapuram); Dr. Bushra Fazal, a gynaecologist; Adv. Azeema (Kozhikode); Dr. K.A. Rahim; and K.A. Karim, an engineer based in Thiruvananthapuram.