Conduct of an ideal healthcare worker towards effective service delivery: the Islamic perspective

Abstract

Background: As the moral decadence of the society becomes the scourge of today’s modern health practices, service deliveries in the health sectors is now more compromised. This is despite the shortage of health service providers in Nigeria. The decadence and its consequent harms more especially in the health sector is in big conflict with the Islamic aim of life, which is to worship Allah (SWA) by living healthily and peacefully with your lord and fellow human beings. By extension, the health sector’s decadence is a deviation from Islamic prescription and practice of good conduct. The place of good conduct in Islam is understood by it forming 1/25th of the prophethood and being symbolized as the crown of the prophets, truthful and pious people. Hence, this paper identified as it main objective the practice of good conduct as a panacea to the moral decadence scourging the health sector.

Methodology: In cognizance of this study, searches on literature on the topic from library desk, publications and online resources were carried out. The reviews of such literature therefore form the theoretical framework of the paper.

Results: The paper identified Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as the model of utmost good conduct. This approach is highly crucial to the understanding of universal value that facilitates the development, maintenance and Muslim healthcare workers play a crucial role in the development, maintenance and evaluation of the art and practice of the healing profession. The paper further illustrated the role of tolerance, perseverance, sincerity and good interpersonal relationship among the patient, carer and the healthcare provider. Current evidence showed how all these are intertwined to forester quick recovery for patients.

Conclusion: The paper concluded that good conduct rituals incorporated in the healthcare service provisions by ways of Islamic values will forester not only recovery from illness but also limit and/or curtail the often associated psychological and spiritual ailments.

Key words: Healthcare workers, good contact, Islamic perspective.