ISLAMIC SOCIAL FINANCING MODEL FOR LOW-INCOME DIALYSIS PATIENTS IN MALAYSIA
A QUALITATIVE APPROACH
Keywords:
Waqf, zakat, healthcare financing, dialysis, MalaysiaAbstract
Malaysia is facing escalating healthcare financing challenges, particularly for chronic conditions requiring long-term treatment such as end-stage renal disease. Dialysis treatment costs average RM250 per session, with patients requiring 2-3 sessions weekly, creating substantial financial burdens for individuals, especially low-income populations. While dialysis patients classified as asnaf (those eligible for zakat) can receive assistance from Baitulmal institutions to cover treatment costs, the increasing number of asnaf requiring dialysis has strained these traditional funding mechanisms, creating allocation challenges for Baitulmal organizations. Traditional Islamic financing mechanisms, particularly waqf (religious endowment), present an underexplored opportunity to address these healthcare financing gaps through community-based models. This study examines stakeholder perspectives on developing a waqf-based healthcare financing framework specifically for dialysis patients in Malaysia, focusing on feasibility, acceptance, and implementation challenges from Islamic scholarly viewpoints. The research employed a qualitative design utilizing focus group discussions (FGDs) with purposively sampled participants, including Islamic scholars and academicians with Shariah backgrounds (n=5). Thematic analysis of the findings revealed the potential for integrating three Islamic social finance instruments: zakat, waqf, and sadaqah. The proposed model suggests utilizing zakat funds to cover direct dialysis treatment costs for eligible patients, waqf endowments to finance facility maintenance and infrastructure, and sadaqah contributions to support operational expenses. These findings provide foundational insights for developing sustainable healthcare financing models that leverage Islamic social finance principles to address Malaysia's growing healthcare needs, offering a comprehensive approach to chronic disease management through community-based religious financing mechanisms.
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