Ramadan Initiative

AIMA Ramadan Initiative

The Ramadan Initiative is a dedicated program that supports healthcare professionals (HCP) both spiritually and physically during Ramadan.
It equips healthcare professionals (HCP) with the knowledge to provide informed and compassionate care to Muslim patients who fast, ensuring medical decisions align with their religious observance.
Additionally, the initiative educates the public on the health benefits of fasting, bridging the gap between faith and well-being.

2025 Webinar Recordings

Healthy Fast, Healthy Ramadan 2

Sunday 23 February 2025

Specialist guidance on women’s health, diabetes management, and sleep optimization during Ramadan.

Healthy Fast, Healthy Ramadan

Sunday 16 February 2025

Expert insights on Digestive health, Nutrition and Heart disease during Ramadan.

Healthy Ramadan Presentation for Clinicians

Tuesday 4 February 2025

Speaker Dr Salman Waqar,
Former BIMA President, GP.

Key Resources for Ramadan

A guide on Ramadan for clinicians

This clinician’s guide offers insights and provides practical tips on how to help patients coordinate fasting with medical/clinical routines during Ramadan. It also includes other information including:

Health Impacts: Insight into how fasting may affect patients’ health, particularly those on medications.
Exemption Categories: Information about groups of people (including children) exempt from fasting under religious guidelines.
Conversation Tips: Guidance for clinicians on structuring respectful and supportive conversations with patients who choose to fast.

Published: 23 February 2025, NEPHU, in collaboration with the Australian Islamic Medical Association (AIMA) and the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV),

Clinicians Factsheet

Factsheet for community

This community factsheet includes general tips on preparing physically and mentally for fasting, guidance on nutrition and hydration, and recommendations on seeking advice from a health professional to effectively manage medical conditions. It also emphasises the importance of seeking healthcare support when needed.

Published: 23 February 2025, NEPHU, in collaboration with the Australian Islamic Medical Association (AIMA) and the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV),

OPEN Factsheet

BIMA Ramadan Health Factsheet 2025

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is obligatory on all adult Muslims. Many patients and staff will be fasting or wanting to fast in Ramadan.

Published: 13 February 2025, British Islamic Medical Association

Open Factsheet

Ramadan Compendium Table

This is a compendium of evidence regarding fasting in Ramadan with health conditions undertaken by the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA). This work builds upon the Ramadan Rapid Review, produced in 2020 in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This work does not form a directive and should be used by individuals to frame an informed discussion with their clinicians. The views expressed represent the views of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BIMA and are not a substitute for professional advice.

Published: 2020, British Islamic Medical Association

Open Compendium

Australian Diabetes Society Position Statement

Management of people with diabetes who choose to fast during Ramadan

Published: April 2022, Australian Diabetes Society

Open Statement

Articles

Considerations for clinicians treating Muslim patients with psychiatric disorders during Ramadan

Outline: Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is a period of spiritual significance for Muslims. Fasting during Ramadan is considered obligatory for those who can do so. Muslims who fast abstain from food, water, and sexual activity from dawn to sunset. As Ramadan is observed according to the lunar calendar, the first day of Ramadan moves forward by 11 days of the Gregorian calendar each year; therefore, depending on the season and location, fasting can last between 10 h and 20 h daily. Generally, each fast is initiated by a meal before dawn (suhoor) and ended with a meal at sunset (iftaar). Qualitative studies indicate that for many Muslims, the act of fasting during Ramadan is deeply valued and cherished.

Published: 2 May 2019, The Lancet Psychiatry

Open Article

Ramadan intermittent fasting for patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary diseases: practical guidance for health-care professionals

Ramadan intermittent fasting can pose challenges and risks for some groups of patients. Based on a narrative literature review and our clinical expertise, we provide practical guidance for clinicians managing patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary conditions who wish to fast during Ramadan. Following the established International Diabetes Federation and Diabetes and Ramadan International Alliance risk stratification framework, we categorised patients’ risk as low or moderate, high, or very high. We advise all patients at very high risk and most patients at high risk to not observe fasting due to potential harm. For others, we offer nuanced recommendations on medication rescheduling, lifestyle changes, and tailored fasting advice to minimise adverse effects. Shared decision making that respects patients’ religious motivations is essential, with risks and benefits carefully weighed on an individual basis.

Published: 10 January 2025, The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Open Article

Impact of Ramadan on Physical Activity and Sleeping Patterns in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: The First Study Using Fitbit Device

The impact of Ramadan fasting, a type of intermittent fasting, on the manage- ment of diabetes has not been well investigated. Physical activity, sleep duration, and time of sleep are susceptible to alterations during Ramadan due to the changes in the times and numbers of meals. This study compared physi- cal activity and sleep patterns of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) during and after Ramadan using the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) and a Fitbit Flex 2 accelerometer.

Published: 4 May 2024, Diabetes Ther

Open Article

Examination of sleep in relation to dietary and lifestyle behaviors during Ramadan: A multi-national study using structural equation modeling among 24,500 adults amid COVID-19

Of around 2 billion Muslims worldwide, approximately 1.5 billion observe Ramadan fasting (RF) month. Those that observe RF have diverse cultural, ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds and are distributed over a wide geographical area. Sleep is known to be significantly altered during the month of Ramadan, which has a profound impact on human health. Moreover, sleep is closely connected to dietary and lifestyle behaviors.

Published: 8 March 2023, Frontiers

Open Article

Exploring health strategies for Ramadan with Muslim healthcare professionals

Held on Saturday 2 March 2024 and Saturday 9 March 2024

Amidst the anticipation and preparation for Ramadan, the Australian Islamic Medical Association (AIMA) organised two enlightening online webinars titled ‘Ramadan Health Talks.’

These sessions delved into the intricacies of health strategies tailored for Ramadan.

Open Article