By Abdul Aziz Al-Samary
SOCIAL media activists have circulated a new government decision that prevents mingling of unrelated men and women in the health sector. The Health Ministry has sent a circular to hospitals, health centers and clinics, instructing separation of male and female employees and patients.
It is worth mentioning that the Saudi society considers mingling of men and women totally prohibited although we don’t see the word mingling of sexes in the history and terminologies of the puritan followers of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and those who came just after them. We understand from Islamic history that the mingling of sexes was not seen in ordinary life of people during the time of Prophet and his followers.
I have understood the ministry’s decision differently. It emphasizes the need to organize work places where mixing of sexes is likely to occur. The decision also stresses the need to incriminate harassment against women and enact laws that would protect her honor. Citizens have witnessed violations in mixed working environment of the health sector.
Being a citizen who has spent a long period of time in the health sector let me explain my experience in this field. I still remember that a big hue and cry occurred at the Medical College of King Saud University in Riyadh several years ago when two consultants demanded from the mufti to prevent entry of male students to the delivery room and female students from specializing in male urology. If that proposal had been implemented the college would have lost its international recognition.
After the issuance of fatwa or religious ruling, the university hospital witnessed scenes of chaos and confusion as supporters and opponents clashed. Opponents said separating men and women at hospitals was impossible due to lack of enough medical staff in both sexes. Same is the case of nursing, a profession dominated by women. It is impossible to appoint only male nurses at men’s section of the hospital. If men join this profession in large numbers who will work for factories, army, security agencies and markets that are mainly run by young men.
We should not generalize individual cases while making a judgment on this vital service sector where staff members generally uphold moral values. Hospital managements punish those who violate the honor of others including men and women. The honor of a patient is considered a red line, not only in Muslim countries but all over the world. I hope authorities conduct a detailed study on harassment against women to impose deterrent punishment on violators.
This is a big challenge for the Health Ministry and the minister of health always wanted to see a clear picture of the situation, which demands a strategic plan in order to distribute executive powers among health departments in the Kingdom’s regions. Every one of us knows that the call to abide by the teachings of Islam has reduced popular pressures to improve services.
In order to understand the decision’s dynamic impact, it should be applied on private hospitals. Then the picture would be complete. The cost of that decision would be much higher then what we can imagine. Many hospitals would be closed if the separation were made mandatory.
We should also think of applying the decision on markets where harassment of women is rampant. But it would not be easy to apply in markets.
Developed countries have imposed strict laws to prevent harassment after knowing it was impossible to apply the separation law in markets.
Supporters of separation are likely to be active at hospitals and this could trigger another conflict between them and the opponents, like the one that occurred at King Saud University. God may back hospital managers, as they would be exposed to greater pressure from supporters of the decision.
This may lead to a tumultuous dialogue in the corridors of hospitals and the role of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) in executing the decision. The implementation of the decision could be postponed until the realization of complete separation of sexes in our daily life in all sectors but it would be impossible even if we spend our whole GDP.
