Developing Muslim-friendly hospital practices: understanding the key drivers

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the appropriate components and sub-components of Muslim-friendly hospital practices that comply with Islamic medical ethics and Sharia requirements. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review procedure based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses publication standards was used to analyse and identify the precise components and sub-components of Muslim-friendly hospital practices from 239 shortlisted papers. Findings The study revealed that Sharia compliance prescription, Islamic infrastructure, Islamic medical practices, compassion and support, competencies of Islamic medical services, conducive Islamic surroundings, reasonable and convenience services and Islamic work culture are important elements that need to be in practice by Muslim-friendly hospital providers. Research limitations/implications This study focuses on studies conducted between January 2010 to August 2022 from the Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar databases. This study contributes to the literature through the identification of eight main components and 53 sub-components that were found to be the core and essential determinants in the establishment of the Muslim-friendly hospital practices framework. Practical implications The proposed Muslim-friendly hospital practices framework are envisaged to motivate policymakers in Malaysia and Indonesia as well as other Muslim countries to implement the proposed framework through a greater number of supportive legislative measures as well as practical promotion and education policies to further enhance the market. Originality/value The number of health-care providers contemplating the integration of Islamic or Muslim-friendly practices into their strategic plans and daily operations is continuously increasing. However, the dearth of studies that provide conclusive evidence of the correct determinants of Muslim-friendly hospital practices that ensure strict Islamic medical ethics and Sharia-compliant service delivery standards had created an impediment that needs to be addressed urgently.