Significance of R&D in Medicine in Today’s Islamic World

1. Significance of R&D in Medicine in Today’s Islamic World Volkan Tuzcu, MDProfessor Director of Pediatric and Genetic Arrhythmia Center Istanbul Medipol University 05-September-2013 Workshop on Establishing a Islamic Fund for Research and Development

2. R&D In Medicine • Vital role of medical research. • Ongoing need for new drugs and technologies. • Increasing cost. • Most of the healthcare expensesin the muslim world go to Western R&D costs in billions of dollars. • End result: lower quality healthcare for the needy muslims.

4. Problems with non-Islamic Methodology in R&D • Embryonic cell research. • Use of haram materials such as alcohol, pork products. • Dependency of Islamic World on Western countries including Israel.

5. Solution for Islamic World • Multinational and multicentral efforts should be encouraged. • Poorer countries should be supported. • Significant saving is possible if most products are produced in muslim countries. • Exporting medical products produced in muslim countries.

6. Steps to be Taken • Establishing a multinational plan with a carefully formed vision and mission formed by experts from various fields. • Establishing an Islamic Fund with multinational support. • Fund should be a nonprofit one. • Fund can be continued to be supported through the money made from exports of products. • Emphasis should be on facing the medical needs of poorer Islamic countries.

7. From Fund to Foundation • Ultimate goal should be to establish a nonprofit foundation. • Extraordinary amounts of money is spent for pharmaceutical research and significant profits are made with new drugs. • Funding agencies end up supporting medical and pharmaceutical companies. • In 2012, the top 11 global drug companies made nearly $85 billion in net profits.

8. From Fund to Foundation • One study, by the group Families USA, found that America’s major drug companies are spending more than twice as much on marketing, advertising and administration than they do on research and development. • Nonprofit foundation is the only reliable way of lowering healthcare costs while assuring a high quality.

9. Alternative and “Islamic Medicine” • Need for a support of traditional and alternative medicine areas. • Lack of current research support for areas with “Islamic focus” (fasting, cupping (hijama), black seed etc.). • Alternative medicine products such as herbs are not drug company products and they can significantly decrease health care costs. • Negative impact of healthcare companies on dictating therapeutic guidelines.

14. Summary • There are significant benefits of establishing an Islamic fund and foundation. • Careful strategic planning in investing specific R&D areas in medical field is crucial for a successful start up. • Return of Investment (ROI) is quite high and this should be used of nonprofit purposes to strengthen the foundation. • All steps should be in accordance with Qur’an and Sunnah and should be reviewed and approved by a Fiqh Committee.