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Muslims 'should get special health care'
Last updated at 00:07am on 12.01.07
British Muslims like those in this file photo deserve special NHS health care, an expert has claimed
Muslims should be provided with faithbased services - including male circumcision - on the NHS, says one healthcare expert.
Professor Aziz Sheikh is also calling for women patients to see same-sex medics, better access to prayer facilities in hospitals and more information so Muslims can avoid alcohol and pig-derived drugs.
Writing in the British Medical Journal, the University of Edinburgh professor also claims Muslims should be given health advice on attempting the Hajj pilgrimage-to Mecca which he insisted was a "religious obligation and not a holiday".
The BMJ contrasts his opinions with those of Professor Aneez Esmail, of Manchester University, who says in another article that it would not be practical to meet everyone's demands for special services based on religious identity.
He warned some faith groups might support practices which may be unacceptable to the majority - such as female circumcision and the refusal to accept blood transfusions.
Reader views (8)
You go to a muslim country. and you follow there rules. Why do other places have to follow there requests. You try going to one of there countrys and change things. You live under the rules of the country. If you don't like them leave, it's that simple.
- John, Cheshire
I agree 100% with Emma, London, UK.
- Brian, Bristol
A prayer room is a good idea - so that people of any faith can pray as found in Heathrow Airport and in some hospitals already - usually called a "quiet room". There is nothing wrong with that. The set up cost is very low - a small empty room will suffice and no equipment is needed. Also. if somone chooses not to pray, that is their choice too.
- Abu Luqman, London UK
It is a myth that Muslims need a special room to pray in. All over the world you can see Muslims pray in the street, libraries, shops etc. Moreover, Muslims who live outside Muslim countries are exempt/forgiven for having to do things like eat food which may not be halal, or miss prayers for work or other reasons. If Muslims do get prayer rooms in hospitals, then it should be on condition that all Muslims in the hospital, patients and staff, MUST attend prayer five times a day, whether they like it or not. If they don't follow what they say are the rules of their religion, and take them seriously, why should we?
On the subject of circumcision, male or female, I think it's pretty obvious that civilized people do not mutilate the genitals of helpless infants.
- Sarah, London
If I want special health treatment then I expect to pay for it; there was an interesting TV programme earlier this week about faith healing where all the patients met the cost of this treatment personally.
I am concerned that the halal method of butchery is very cruel to animals and think this outdated practice should be banned.
- Brian Whelan, East Ham
The NHS is there to provide British citizens with neccesary health care. Unless there is a valid medical reason for surgery to performed on someone then that surgery should not be performed, regardless of faith.
- Lloyd, London
Yippee! So does that mean that if I get sick and claim I am a muslim, I can be assured that I will not be subjected to the indignity of a mixed-sex ward? Sorted - I'll go out and buy a veil immediately.
- Emma, London, UK
No course of medical treatment should be based on superstition.
- Andy, London
