Muslim doctors in the UK face persistently high levels of religious discrimination. A revealing study, Religious Identity-Based Discrimination in the Physician Workforce, sheds light on the significant discrimination faced by Muslim doctors, highlighting the urgent need to address religious inclusion as a key component of workplace equality. The study, conducted as part of a US-UK research project led by the Initiative on Islam and Medicine, involved 104 Muslim doctors in the UK. Alarmingly, 40% reported experiencing religious discrimination during their careers, with 44% encountering it as early as medical school. In addition, 38% of Muslim physicians continue to face workplace discrimination, while 15% have been refused by patients because of their faith. More than half (56%) felt they were subjected to greater scrutiny compared to their non-Muslim colleagues, and 69% reported difficulties in accessing prayer accommodations at work. Older Muslim doctors were more likely to experience workplace discrimination and to feel overlooked for professional advancement.Interestingly, visible expressions of religious identity, such as wearing a hijāb or beard, were associated with higher job satisfaction and lower levels of burnout and depression.
The British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) played an integral role in the research, collaborating with study leaders Dr. Aasim I. Padela and Dr. Laila Azam from the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Initiative on Islam and Medicine (II&M)
These findings mirror similar patterns of discrimination identified by the II&M team in their broader study on how religious identity shapes Muslim doctors’ experiences of workplace discrimination in the United States (USA). They found that over half of Muslim doctors in the USA frequently encounter religious discrimination, nearly 6 out of every 10 doctors believed they were passed over for advancement due to their faith, and a third reported patient refusals of care based on their religion. These experiences were linked to significant psychological and professional consequences, including depression, burnout, and job turnover.
In both the UK and the USA, religious discrimination has a profound and systemic impact on Muslim doctors, and it is crucial that this issue be addressed. The team put forward several recommendations for the NHS, which BIMA urges the NHS to adopt, aimed at reducing discrimination and improving workplace inclusion for Muslim doctors:
- Implement robust policies to prevent religious discrimination and ensure fairness in career progression.
- Provide appropriate spaces and support for religious practices, such as prayer facilities.
- Foster a culture of inclusivity that values and respects religious diversity across the workforce.
Dr Laila Azam, first author, commented:
“This study not only highlights the challenges faced by Muslim doctors but also underscores the resilience of religious identity as a source of strength. The findings highlight that the NHS must act to ensure fair policies and accommodations for Muslim healthcare workers in order to end workplace discrimination and foster equity.”
BIMA’s recently elected President, Dr Sahira Dar, added:
“Religious identity often remains a blind spot in the NHS’s diversity and inclusion agenda. This study is a call to action to address these inequalities and support Muslim doctors in providing their best care to patients.”
To read the full study, click here.
To read more about the Institute on Islam and Medicine project, click here.
References:
- https://bmjleader.bmj.com/content/early/2024/11/22/leader-2024-001004
- medicineandislam.org
- https://medicineandislam.org/discrimination-accommodation-inclusion-examining-muslim-clinician-experiences-within-academic-medicine/