BY ADLIAH MHD ALI Faculty of Pharmacy , Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

AND

BY YUMI ZUHANIS HAS-YUN HASHIM International Institute for Halal Research and Training ( INHART ), International Islamic University Malaysia

Rooted in Islamic principles of permissible consumption , halal pharmaceuticals adhere to stringent guidelines to ensure compliance with shari ’ ah . According to recent statistics , Muslim spending on pharmaceuticals reached US $ 108 billion in 2022 , up by 7.8 per cent from US $ 100 billion in 2021 and is forecast to reach US $ 142 billion in 2027 at a compound annual growth rate ( CAGR ) of 5.7 per cent ( Dinar Standard , 2023 ), reflecting a growing demand for healthcare products that align with Islamic beliefs .

However , as these products gain traction in the market , they also provoke discussion and debate within society about their ethical , religious , and practical implications . Examining halal pharmaceuticals through the lens of our society offers a nuanced understanding of the intersections between faith , healthcare , and consumerism in contemporary times .

Malaysia , with a Muslim majority of 60 per cent of its 32 million population , has been leading the global halal sector . However , unlike halal food and beverages , halal compliance and certification of pharmaceuticals is less known among the Malaysian public .

THE MALAYSIAN STANDARD FOR HALAL PHARMACEUTICALS

Pharmaceuticals are defined as pharmaceutical products in finished dosage forms and include both prescription and non-prescription medicinal products for human use registered with the Drug Control Authority , Ministry of Health ( MoH ) Malaysia .

In Malaysia , any pharmaceutical product will be regarded as halal if it fulfils the conditions outlined in the MS2424:2019 ( Department of Standards Malaysia , 2019 ), as listed below : a . Does not contain any parts or products of animals that are non-halal or any parts or products of animals which are not slaughtered according to shari ’ ah law ; b . Does not contain najs ; c . safe for consumption , non-poisonous , nonintoxicating or non-hazardous to health according to the prescribed dosage ; d . Not prepared , processed or manufactured using equipment contaminated with najs ; e . Does not contain any human parts or its derivatives that are not permitted by shari ’ ah law and f . During its preparation , processing , handling , packaging , storage and distribution , the halal pharmaceutical products are physically separated from any other pharmaceutical products that do not meet the requirements stated in items a ), b ), c ), d ) or e ) or any other items that have been decreed as non-halal and najs by shari ’ ah law .

PHARMACEUTICAL INGREDIENTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN

Halal pharmaceuticals include drugs and

medicines manufactured from various active pharmaceutical ingredients ( API ) and excipients . These substances may originate from various sources of natural ( animals , plants ) and synthetic materials .

Many of these substances are halal in nature and do not pose any non-halal issues . However , in a processing and manufacturing flow of halal products including pharmaceuticals , there are materials and processing aids during production as well as handling that can affect the integrity of the halal substances and of the final products .

Gelatin , an animal by-product , is one of the most ubiquitous materials used in the pharmaceutical industry . Its outstanding gelling property finds immense application in the large-scale processing and manufacturing of various foods and pharmaceutical products ( Shah and Yusof , 2014 ).

From the Islamic perspective , gelatinbased products are considered mashbooh ( doubtful , questionable , grey area between halal and haram ) as they originate from animal sources , thus their raw material and slaughtering process can be questionable ( Ahmad Anuar et al ., 2023 ).

Stearic acid is another critical ingredient in halal pharmaceutical manufacturing processes and products . Stearic acid is a major fatty acid in animals and some fungi and a minor component in most plants .

It is used as a passive base chemical in the manufacturing of various pharmaceutical preparations . The salt of stearic acid , magnesium stearate , is also commonly used to facilitate the lubrication process when blended with a mix of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate and microcrystalline cellulose .

The verse 173 from Surah Al-Baqarah clearly stated the forbidden sources of materials . Allah s . w . t . said in the Quran ,

“ He has made unlawful to you only carrion and blood and the flesh of swine and that over which there has been pronounced the name of anyone other than Allah ’ s . But he who is constrained ( to eat of them ) – and he neither covets them nor exceeds the indispensable limit incurs no sin : Allah is All-Forgiving , All-Compassionate .” ( Quran , Al-Baqarah , 2:173 )

Although the ascribed principles assert the substances including intoxicants ( alkhmar ), swine and impure things could not be consumed , there are situations where these substances are allowed such as in extreme necessity for survival ( dharurah ) ( Mohd Zarif et al ., 2013 ). In this regard , one ’ s health and life could be in the state of dharurah , which necessitates the consumption of such substances .

UNDERSTANDING THE CONSUMERS ’ VIEW ON HALAL PHARMACEUTICALS

A patient has the right to be informed on the management plan especially when it involves medications that will be provided by the healthcare professional team . Previous studies conducted in ambulatory settings have noted that agreement between patients and physicians regarding the diagnosis and treatment plan is associated with improved