First Muslim clinic opens in Moscow
Published 07 December, 2007, 04:33
A health centre specifically designed for Muslims has opened its doors in the Russian capital. The clinic aims to provide followers of Islam with the chance to receive medical treatment without compromising the strict rules of their religion.
The doctors at the health centre say healing starts even before the patient enters the treatment room, due to its calm and relaxing atmosphere.
“When someone knows that he's in a specialised centre, he already feels better. Even if only in his mind, this is already the first step in his treatment,” said surgeon Pavel Chepenko.
All the rules of Islam are strictly observed. Any alcohol content is removed from medicines. Also, men are treated only by male doctors and women by females.
It's not just medical practice that makes the clinic special. The centre even has a prayer room with two separate entrances – one for men and one for women.
Meanwhile, it is still open to debate if medicine should be blind to religious boundaries.
“We, Muslims of Russia, are native citizens of this country and should live comfortably and peacefully in our state. If Muslims want to found their own medical centre, no one has the right to say they shouldn’t,” stated Ravil Gainutdin, Chairman of the Mufti Council of Russia.
The new centre is a response to a clear demand. Russia is home to over 20 million Muslims, and at least two million live in Moscow.
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