Doctor Amrit Prasad dies after 35 years of service at Albany Creek

‘He would arrive at work at 7am when he was meant to start at 8am, just in case a patient needed him’: The beautiful career of one of Brisbane’s longest-serving doctors has been honoured in a touching tribute.

Albany Creek mourns the loss of longest serving, legendary Doctor Amrit Prasad.

One of north Brisbane’s most beloved general practitioners has died after serving his community for more than three decades.

Doctor Amrit Prasad treated patients at the Prasads Medical Centre and the Albany Creek Medical Centre for 45 years and has left behind a legacy of kindness, love for fishing and quality care for his patients.

He died on February 28, 2024 at aged 76, after developing blood cancer.

He was born in Fiji in 1947 and was the eldest of eight siblings.

Dr Prasad was a loving husband to Rukmani Prasad who he married in 1972 and together they raised their three children; Asit, Ashika and Anish.

Dr Prasad and his wife Rukmani on their wedding day.

Mr Prasad’s eldest son Asit said his father was the first person in his family to attend university.

“He graduated from the Fiji School of Medicine and met my mum when she was working there as a nurse,” Mr Prasad said.

“We moved to Australia in 1987 to Darwin and in 1991 he started Prasad’s Medical Centre with his long time friend from Fiji at Albany Creek.

“He cared deeply about his work and had so much integrity, he was the unintentional leader of our whole extended family,” he said.

Mr Prasad believed in the importance of education, a motto he drilled into his children growing up.

“He would tell us about how easy we have it after he walked to school in Fiji in his bare feet on gravel,” Mr Prasad said.

“He was a practical and pragmatic man, if something wasn’t logical he wouldn’t do it.

“I will miss the assurance that he is always there and his strong character,” he said.

Dr Prasad and his family.

Known by his colleagues as the “energiser bunny” Dr Prasad exceeded expectations of patients by bulk-billing his appointments six days per week over ten hour days.

Colleague Craig Urquhart said Dr Prasad was an incredibly humble and generous person.

“He would arrive at work at 7am each morning, even though he was meant to start at 8am, just in case a patient needed to squeeze in before,” Mr Urquhart said.

“He never missed a beat and we called him the energiser bunny.

“He was one of the old fashioned doctors who lived in the community and patients had his mobile number,” he said.

Dr Prasad worked right up until his tragic passing, with his colleagues and patients unaware he was battling an illness.

“He worked until he was submitted to hospital,

“You just don’t get doctors like him anymore,” Mr Urquhart said.

Dr Prasad and his wife Rukmani.

Tributes have flowed from the community who mourn the loss of Dr Amrit.

Craig Malyon said his family had seen Dr Amrit for 37 years.

“He looked after most of my family and my babies who are now up to 30 years old,” Mr Malyon said.

“He always asked about the family and how are things going at our jobs, loved a talk about golf and fishing as the photo was always on his wall with the big fish he caught.

“He will be sadly missed in our family a great loss,” he said.

Patient Tricia Gonzalez Novak said he was her family’s doctor for many years and was a beautiful man.

“When we told him my father had passed he got tears in his eyes, my mum will be so saddened,” Ms Novak said.

Patient Jeff Davis said Dr Prasad was a master of his profession.

Dr Prasad, his wife Rukmani and their three children Asit, Ashika and Anish.

Dr Prasad’s funeral service will be held on Saturday March 2, 2024.