Demand for "faith-based" medical care in U.K.

Britain Must Give "Faith-Specific" Health Care to Muslims, Professor
Says in Medical Journal
01-12-2007 10:58 AM

LONDON -- A British Muslim academic Friday called for "faith specific"
health care for the country's largest minority faith community. Writing
in the British Medical Journal, Professor Aziz Sheikh of Edinburgh
University argued that Britain's 1.6 million Muslims have the poorest
health profile of any minority.

"There are few faith-centred initiatives aiming to improve health
outcomes for our largest minority faith community," he wrote.

"This reflects the general failure among academics, policy-makers and
clinicians to appreciate the particular needs faith communities may
have."

Sheikh said the state National Health Service should implement a system
to record the religious affiliation of patients, saying this would
allow Muslims to see doctors of the same sex as themselves and also
avoid pork and alcohol-derived drugs banned by their religion.

Sheikh, who is professor of primary care research and development at
Edinburgh University, said infant male circumcision should be provided
by the NHS, so poorer parents would not have to resort to what he
called the poorly regulated private health sector.

He also wants better prayer facilities for Muslims in NHS hospitals.

A Department of Health spokeswoman denied any discrimination against
Muslims, saying services were decided locally according to clinical
need and "the diversity of the local population."

"All patients are entitled to ask to see doctors of a certain sex,"
said a spokeswoman, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with
department policy.

She said the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, which
regulates provision of health services in Britain, has not approved the
provision of infant circumcision.

Another Muslim academic, Professor Aneez Esmail of Manchester
University, warned that providing special services for defined groups
risks stigmatization and stereotyping.

"While it is reasonable we try to plan and configure our services to
take account of needs that may have their roots in particular
beliefs...we cannot meet everyone's demands for special services based
on their religious identity," he said. "It would not be practical."