IMPLEMENTATION OF HEALTHCARE WAQF: A CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSITI SAINS ISLAM MALAYSIA’S HEALTH SPECIALIST CLINIC

Abstract

Waqf is a very important economic instrument in Islam. History has shown that waqf has assisted Muslims tremendously since the era of the Prophet Muhammad () until the next splendid era of Islam. Various rewards await those who have implemented waqf for the sole purpose of encouraging this practice among Muslims. This noble practice then spreads, not only within the traditional boundaries such as the construction of mosques, religious schools and cemeteries, but continues to develop in various forms including in “health waqf’. Increasing healthcare costs do not take into consideration the factor of affordability, that is whether patients can afford to bear the cost or otherwise. For the asnāf, the current cost of
treatment by specialists is beyond their means and so an alternative route for them would be through health waqf. Similarly, the problem applies to the non-asnāf for whom the cost would be considered lower. With the establishment of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) Health Specialist Clinic (HSC), the waqf agenda prospers in different forms be it in health, expertise or education thus realizing its objective of assisting the poor and needy, and indirectly implementing the agenda of global peace.