A Review on the Development of Healthcare Infrastructure Through the History of Islamic Civilization.

Abstract

The current healthcare systems across the world are well established with the use of information and communication technologies. However, the developments of healthcare systems during the early Islamic and medieval ages have contributed to the establishment of various procedures and practices which are still relevant today. In addition, the research related to the history of medicine in the Arab world mainly focused on the medical literature and very few practices; whereas the healthcare infrastructure and management were undermined. In order to address this gap, this study focuses on reviewing the healthcare systems and infrastructural developments through the history of Islamic civilization, which spread across the Middle East, Africa, Spain, and West Asia. The findings are presented systematically under the categories of types of care centers, management and human resources, medical education system, and medical ethics, and then discussed.