220905P - FACTORS OF SUSTAINABILITY OF THE SHARI’AH-COMPLIANT HEALTH CARE CONCEPT

Presented at the 5th National Conference on Shari’ah Compliant Hospital 2022 under the theme ‘Challenges of implementing Shariah Compliant Healthcare’ on 5th September 2022 10.10-10.40am at the Auditorium Hall, Level 4, Sultan Ahmad Shah Medical Center Kuantan, Malaysia. By Professor Omar Hasan Kasule Sr. MB ChB (MUK), MPH (Harvard), DrPH (Harvard) Professor of Epidemiology and Bioethics

1.0 GENERAL AWARENESS OF ISLAMIC PRACTICE:

• The proto-concept of Islamic medicine arose during the start of the 15th century of hijra and became concrete by 1995 when it was realized that modern scientific medicine could be practiced within the ethical and legal paradigms of Islam.
• The realization led to several consequences: medical fiqh, Islamic medical ethics, ibadah-friendly hospitals, and shari’ah-compliant medical practice all supported by teaching and training in Islamic aspects of medicine
• The awareness has been extended and expanded by discussions at seminars and conferences and is spreading and taking root in many Muslim societies and countries.

2.0 DEMAND FOR ISLAMIC ALTERNATIVES:

• Developments in medical technology such as organ transplantation, artificial life support, and reproductive technologies created many ethical and fiqh issues that further reinforced the need for further thinking and research on Islamic aspects of medicine.
• Dissatisfaction with current medical practices led many to look at alternative/complementary medical practices and this encouraged Islamic medicine even more.
• The main drivers of this demand are the person-centered approach and the solution of religious and social problems in medical practice.

3.0 TEACHING ABOUT ISLAMIC SHARI’AH COMPLIANCE AT FACULTIES OF MEDICINE AND NURSING, PHARMACY, AND DENTISTRY:

• Starting in 1997 the concept became part of the curriculum of several faculties of medicine while it was also propagated at seminars, workshops, and training programs.
• The Kulliyah of Medicine at the International Islamic University in Kuantan Malaysia was the first to incorporate Islamic input in all 5 years of its medical course.
• Graduates of IIUM over the past 25 years have spread the concept of a shari’ah-compliant hospital wherever they went to work within Malaysia and outside.
• Graduates of IIUM also made contributions by working in shari’ah-compliant hospitals.

4.0 KULLIYAH OF MEDICINE AT THE INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY KUANTAN MALAYSIA:

5.0 ESTABLISHING SHARI’AH COMPLIANT HOSPITALS:

• By 2000 the concept was implemented in practice at Islamic clinics and hospitals.
• Patients were drawn to these facilities because they solved their spiritual, ibadat, and fiqh problems. The person-centered approach of these facilities emphasizing ‘ukhuwah’ above everything gave immense satisfaction to patients.
• The general social environment of the facility resonated with Islamic culture making patients feel more at home.
• These hospitals are expanding after overcoming initial problems of financial health (because of their small size) and are reaching out to a wider community of patients Muslims and non-Muslims.
• The wider outreach has forced the Sultan Ahmad Shah Hospital in Kuantan to add provisions for non-Muslim patients in its policies and procedures.

6.0 ISLAMIC HOSPITAL AMMAN, JORDAN:

7.0 ISLAMIC SPECIALIST HOSPITAL KUALA LUMPUR:

8.0 ISLAMIC HOSPITAL BANDUNG:

9.0 SAIDINA ABUBAKAR ISLAMIC HOSPITAL UGANDA:

10.0 INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC HOSPITAL YOGYAKARTA:

11.0 IIUM MEDICAL CENTRE:

12.0 OFFICIAL SUPPORT FOR SHARI’AH-COMPLIANT HOSPITALS:

• The concept of shari’ah-compliant hospitals was promoted further by official recognition when shari’ah standard operating procedures and standards were recognized in Malaysia (SIRIM) and Indonesia.
• This recognition further stimulated public demand for ibadah-friendly hospitals with the Malaysian Ministry of Health taking the lead in responding to this demand and making its hospitals ibadah-friendly.
• The shari’ah-compliant hospitals have asserted themselves further by forming coalitions and associations that represent their interests.

13.0 RESEARCH

• The intellectual and professional dimensions of the concept are being expanded by many researchers in health and shari’ah-related faculties writing master's and doctoral theses on the concept.
• Members of the faculties of medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and science produce books, papers, and theses on the integration of Islam in medicine and shari’ah-compliant practice.
• Cross-disciplinary research involving faculties of shari’ah and Islamic studies on practical problems arising out of applications of modern medical technology.

14.0 EXPANSION AND GROWTH OF THE CONCEPT OF SHARI’AH COMPLIANCE:

• The concept is being expanded outside the clinical domain to cover management, finance, pharmaceuticals, and public health.
• The concept has a great future in many Muslim and non-Muslim countries.
• Of all factors of sustainability discussed above the most important has been and will continue to be the education and training of future professionals on shari’ah-compliant health care.