Modern and Islamic medicine : some implications for training health care professionals in Kuwait

Abstract

The historical roots of traditional and modem Western medicine have been

the same, but during the past century these systems have diverged modem medicine has became dominant, replacing traditional systems in much of the world and denigrating them as quackery. In recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in traditional systems, with a remarkable change in attitude among health care professionals in many parts of the world. There is an increasing emphasis upon the importance of health care providers familiarizing themselves with specific culture-bound syndromes and their manifestations, in order to provide quality care to culturally diverse clients seeking health care services. Thus, there is a need for a complementary relationship between traditional healing practices and modem medicine in the world, reflecting the importance of respect for cultural diversity in health planning. The research problem assumes a relation between three distinctive dimensions of reality, namely, the

industrial mentality, culture, and education. These dimensions will be discussed - according to the relation-axes model introduced by Wielemans and Chan (1992:19), which investigates the complexity of relationships between man and himself, man and fellowmen, man and nature, and man and the transcendental. In Kuwait the traditional healing practices will be examined according to Islamic medicine and its contribution to health care. A comparison of modem and Islamic medicine is formulated and recommendations are made for the training health care professionals in Kuwait.