Framework for Shariah compliance a game changer for healthcare
The Star, 1 August 2024
KMI Healthcare is working with UTP to implement the Shariah compliance healthcare framework at its hospitals.
The growth of Shariah-compliant products and services is today apparent in several sectors of the economy as Muslims in Malaysia and around the world increasingly seek to incorporate Islamic tenets and teachings in their daily activities.
Over the past two decades, demand for Shariah-compliant products and services has risen, whether for food or tourism offerings and Islamic financial products and services.
A similar trend is also observed in the healthcare sector. Responding to the demand from Muslim patients who seek medical services and providers that align with their religious beliefs, in 2014 Malaysia’s Ministry of Health introduced Ibadah Friendly Hospitals to selected government hospitals.
The country’s premier research and technology organisation and champion of quality, Sirim, also issued a Shariah-based Quality Management System MS1900:2014.
Although these guidelines can be applied to organisations from various sectors, in the healthcare sector, they have led to the establishment of so-called Shariah-compliant or Islamic hospitals.
These hospitals have become a welcome refuge for Muslim patients, offering a healthcare environment that respects and protects their modesty and privacy during medical examinations and procedures.
Adhering to Islamic principles, these institutions ensure that medications, organ transplants and blood transfusions comply with religious guidelines.
Furthermore, end-of-life care is provided in accordance with Islamic beliefs about dying, offering comprehensive and culturally sensitive support to patients and their families.
As such over the last 30 years, the public has witnessed more and more hospital institutions offering Ibadah friendly hospital services gearing healthily towards a full-fledge Shariah Compliant hospital service.
Consistently, at the Seminar on Islamisation of the Medical Curriculum and Practice at the International Islamic University Kuantan Malaysia in 2013, Dr Omar Kasule, a global pioneer in integration of Islamic medicine into medical practice and teaching, emphasised that the establishment of Shariah-compliant healthcare must be an evolutionary process rather than revolutionary which is the exact path our country is threading.
“After this long journey, our country should be ready to transition from Ibadah-friendly healthcare to fully Shariah-compliant healthcare services,” says UTP’s Centre for Social Innovation (CoSI) leader associate professor Dr Mohd Nuri Al-Amin Endut and an expert in Islamic critical thinking, thought and theology.
“To achieve this, we need a standardised approach with uniform rules, guidelines, and regulations that all healthcare providers must adhere to,” he added, underscoring the importance of a phased, evolutionary process.
Hence, motivated to assist the country in the transition to Shariah-compliant healthcare service, Dr Muhammad Ridhuan Tony Lim Abdullah, a pioneering leader of Governance and Public Policy Cluster at CoSI whose expertise in applied expert systems, teamed up with Mohd Nuri to embark on a ground-breaking initiative to formulate a framework for Shariah compliance in the healthcare sector.
The initiative, which began in 2022, was undertaken in collaboration with the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim), an organisation known for its expertise in Islamic studies and research. Dr Kamarul Affendy Hamimi from UNiKL and Dr Shariff Harun of UiTM were also co-researchers of this initiative.
“The initiative included discussions with various stakeholders and experts such as policymakers, representatives of the Ministry of Health, private hospitals, legal experts, academia as well as Islamic non-governmental organisations. It entailed a multidisciplinary exploration of Islamic principles, medical ethics, healthcare management and cultural sensitivities, among other factors,” says Ridhuan.
These efforts culminated early this year with the development of a Shariah Compliance Framework for the healthcare sector, a comprehensive blueprint providing clear and actionable guidelines for healthcare providers to follow in their quest for Shariah compliance.
Both Ridhuan and Mohd Nuri believe that the robust framework is poised to drive positive change in the healthcare sector - ensuring that patients receive care that is not only medically effective but also culturally and ethically sound according to Islamic principles.
This pioneering initiative has received encouraging responses from the medical fraternity.
KMI Healthcare, for example, is working with UTP to implement the framework at its hospitals, beginning with KMI Kuala Terengganu Medical Centre at the end of this year.
KMI Healthcare is working with UTP to implement the Shariah compliance healthcare framework at its hospitals.Expert panellists at the Shariah Compliance Medical Service Standards Framework Workshop.
Changing the landscape of healthcare
There are several reasons underscoring the importance of the Shariah compliance healthcare framework.
“Firstly, it ensures that medical practices respect and adhere to the cultural and religious beliefs of Muslim patients, providing care that aligns with their values and expectations,” says Mohd Nuri.
“By integrating Islamic principles into healthcare, the framework promotes a holistic approach to patient care that addresses physical, spiritual and emotional needs.
“The framework emphasises ethical medical practices, including the use of halal medications, permissible medical procedures and end-of-life care that respects Islamic teachings.
“Establishing standardised rules, guidelines and regulations for Shariah-compliant healthcare ensures legal and regulatory clarity, making it easier for healthcare providers to implement and maintain these standards.
“A standardised approach ensures consistency in the quality of care provided across all healthcare institutions, reducing disparities and ensuring that all patients receive high-quality, culturally appropriate medical services.”
He added that by addressing these factors, the Shariah-compliant healthcare framework not only meets the needs of Muslim patients but also enhances the overall effectiveness,
inclusivity and ethical standards of the healthcare system.
“When healthcare services are Shariah-compliant, Muslim patients are more likely to trust and feel comfortable with their medical providers, leading to better patient outcomes and satisfaction.
“A Shariah-compliant healthcare system strengthens community support for medical institutions, fostering a sense of belonging and trust within the Muslim community,” says Mohd Nuri.
“What’s equally significant about this pioneering framework is that it presents an opportunity for Malaysia to take a leadership role in advancing Shariah compliance in the healthcare sector.
“Furthermore, as demand for Shariah-compliant services grows globally, having a robust framework can position the country as a leader in this niche healthcare sector, attracting international patients and collaborations,” says Ridhuan.
Consistently, the country has been a frontrunner in the halal industry as well as the Islamic financial services sector and growth in these segments are on an upward trend, he points out.
Halal food exports in global markets for example are expected to reach US$3 trillion by 2027, up from US$2 trillion in 2021; supported by the expanding global Muslim market, which currently makes up almost a quarter of the world’s population.
The global Islamic finance sector also continues to grow, with demand for Shariah-compliant financial products and services coming from both Muslims and non-Muslims customers.
With the framework setting the standard for Shariah-compliance, the country can also expect to raise its standing as a medical tourism destination, especially among other Muslim countries.
Currently, Malaysia is ranked among the top medical tourism destinations in Asia.
In 2019, Malaysia attracted 1.3 million international healthcare tourists with a total of RM1.7bil in hospital receipts. Highly sought-after medical procedures include cardiology, fertility treatment, oncology, orthopaedics, general health screening, aesthetics, dental and neurology.
Mohd Nuri adds that embracing Shariah compliance can also open doors to financial opportunities, such as obtaining funding from Islamic banks or investors who prioritise businesses that align with Islamic principles.
Such financial support can facilitate the expansion of healthcare services and reach a broader patient demographic.
For more information and enquiries on the Shariah Compliance Framework, email consultancy@utp.edu.my.
