As Ramadan comes to an end, we turn our sights towards preparing for the next major event in our calendars - Hajj. Allah SWT declares ‘Call ˹all˺ people to the pilgrimage. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel from every distant path (Hajj, 27). In Ramadan many of us seek to enter spiritual retreat, while Hajj is a great journey of devotion that culminates in a gathering of unified focus and the greatest purpose. We hear the call and we come.
This year’s BIMA National Conference takes place in Glasgow and in 1933, 65 year old Lady Evelyn Cobbold from Scotland, was the first Muslim woman born in the UK to perform the Hajj. Her legacy continues to inspire Muslims today, including a local imam who made an appearance in the documentary ‘Everybody to Kenmure Street’. I watched this testament to the power of a community on Eid, the love of neighbours and the power we all hold if we come together, last night at Glasgow Film Theatre. Glasgow is a courageous city, and in the home of the ‘Glasgow effect’, the Glasgow Coma Scale, the Glasgow-Blatchford score and the modified Glasgow Score, the BIMA Conference now asks the important questions - What does it mean to live well? How can we restore balance in health systems? How can innovation help tackle deep-rooted health inequalities?
This newsletter highlights two of BIMA’s latest statements - on proposed GMC reforms and on the Scottish parliament’s assisted dying bill. Now more than ever, the importance and relevance of BIMA’s work cannot be understated. Amidst global chaos, rising levels of Islamophobia and social inequalities that mean the most vulnerable bear the greatest burden of poor health, BIMA is committed to restoring the balance. Through your support, we can continue to speak with clarity, integrity, and professionalism on issues that matter.
The National Conference is BIMA’s flagship event and brings together thinkers and doers with the ambition to bring real change. Don’t miss your chance to gather for a great purpose.
Rumaisa Zubairi National Conference Director
Upcoming Events
BIMA Conference 2026 | Why It Matters
Each year, this is where Muslim healthcare professionals from across the UK come together — not just to learn, but to reconnect with purpose, build meaningful relationships, and move forward as a community.
It’s a space to collaborate with like-minded colleagues, strengthen your network, and contribute to a growing, unified Muslim healthcare body.
Under this year’s theme Living Well: Restoring the Balance, the Conference offers a moment to reflect, connect, and take forward what matters.
Eid offer extended till 3rd April: £10 off all tickets with code: BIMANC26EID
Last weekend, TeamBIMA members from across the country came together for the TeamBIMA 2026 Retreat — a valuable opportunity to reconnect, reflect, and begin shaping plans for the year ahead.
Held at the University of Leicester, the retreat brought together team leads and volunteers for a day of structured discussion, practical workshops, and shared learning.
Alhamdulillah, it was encouraging to see strong engagement across teams, with some already having held their first meetings. Further team sessions will be taking place in the coming weeks, inshaAllah, as plans begin to take shape.
This retreat marks an important starting point — setting direction, building connections, and laying the groundwork for meaningful impact across BIMA’s work.
We look forward to seeing what each team achieves in the year ahead.
Member Exclusive: Muslim Tech Fest 2026
BIMA General Members have been given exclusive early access to Muslim Tech Fest 2026 tickets — with the largest available discount.
Through our community link, members can access:
£40 off early bird tickets
Priority access ahead of general release
Muslim Tech Fest brings together founders, engineers, creatives, and investors shaping the future of tech — a valuable space for those exploring opportunities beyond traditional clinical pathways.
Discount access window: 1 April (12:00 PM) → 4 April (12:00 PM)
Register before 4th April to receive your discount code (valid for 48 hours). Once the window closes, the offer will no longer be available.
BIMA Statement on Proposed GMC Regulatory Reforms – 24th March 2026
BIMA is reviewing the Government’s proposed reforms to the GMC following the Lord Mann review into racism in the NHS. While we strongly support action to tackle discrimination and misconduct, we have concerns that some proposals may undermine fairness, proportionality, and due process, and note the absence of explicit attention to Islamophobia despite rising concerns. We are also concerned about potential impacts on legal certainty and free expression within the NHS.
BIMA will continue engaging with stakeholders and exploring all appropriate routes to ensure the final framework is fair, balanced, and effective for both patients and doctors.
During Ramadan, we ran a campaign to further support our work in this area.
Protecting professional integrity, challenging Islamophobia, and defending the right to speak out - this is at the heart of BIMA’s work for Muslim healthcare professionals in the UK.
Through advocacy and direct support, we are standing alongside colleagues navigating increasing pressure within the profession.
BIMA Statement on Scottish Parliament Rejection of Assisted Dying Bill
BIMA welcomes the Scottish Parliament’s decision to reject the Assisted Dying Bill, recognising the significant ethical, clinical, and societal concerns raised. This is a pivotal moment to prioritise high-quality palliative care, safeguard vulnerable individuals, and ensure dignity and compassion remain at the heart of end-of-life care.
Developed in collaboration with FOSIS, Ramadan Reset 2026 reached campuses across the UK, with strong engagement from Muslim healthcare students and societies nationwide.
From the weekly challenges to practical resources like the Ramadan health journal, recipes, and wellbeing guides, the project supported students to approach Ramadan with intention, balance, and informed choices.
A key strength of Ramadan Reset remains its peer-led approach — designed by students, for students, and grounded in real experience.
We’re grateful to everyone who contributed and took part, and we look forward to building on this again next year, inshaAllah.
BIMA's Collaboration with Glaucoma UK Improving Public Health
BIMA was recently mentioned in an article by Hyphen discussing how working with faith communities can help improve public health outreach.
The piece highlights BIMA’s involvement in Glaucoma UK's Ramadan campaign, helping raise awareness about the importance of continuing glaucoma treatment during the fasting month.
Mahnoor Khan, BIMA’s Optometry Lead, shared practical guidance to help address common concerns about using eye drops while fasting, supporting patients to protect their sight while observing Ramadan.
World Kidney Day 2026 Inspiring the Next Generation
On 12th March, BIMA joined healthcare partners to mark World Kidney Day with pupils at Oasis Academy Don Valley in Sheffield.
Through storytelling, discussion and shared experiences, we spoke to over 100 young students about kidney health, organ donation and the power of saving lives.
Many families in our communities are still unsure about organ donation, and education from a young age can help open compassionate, informed discussions.
At BIMA, we remain committed to empowering communities with knowledge and encouraging life saving conversations.
We recently hosted a joint webinar with Medical Protection Society exploring the risks and realities of digital consultations and AI in healthcare.
The session saw strong engagement, with over 100 sign-ups from healthcare professionals across the UK.
Dr Ben White from Medical Protection Society discussed key medico-legal considerations, common pitfalls in remote care, and practical safeguards for clinicians navigating rapidly evolving technologies.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this timely and important discussion.
Sponsored Message
Assalamu alaikum,
Recently, a group of brothers from Birmingham have launched Medina Medical Education — a UK-based, consultant-led medical education company.
They are organising a high-quality 1-day ECG Course on Saturday, 25 April, delivered by 8 consultant cardiologists from the West Midlands. The course will be held at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital and is available in hybrid format (in-person or online).
The course is officially approved and accredited by the Royal College of Physicians, awarding 7 CPD points. It also includes dedicated breaks for prayer, along with coffee, tea, and a hot lunch.
When registering, please select BIMA in the “How did you hear about the course?” section so they can track the community response.
We’re continuing to build practical, meaningful value for our members — supporting your career development, learning, and connection to community.
Here’s what you can access as a BIMA General Member:
Early access and discounts for Muslim Tech Fest 2026
Lifetime access to Praktiki — a 5-star CPD & clinical search app
Discounted access to OffScript AI — supporting transitions from clinical to industry roles
These are just some of the benefits available, alongside a wider range including brand discounts (Learning Roots, Desi Doll, Qur’an Cube), financial guidance, and additional support continually being developed to serve you at every stage of your journey.
Not yet a member? Join a growing community of Muslim healthcare professionals working to support one another and serve with impact: https://britishima.org/join-bima
There are 40+ BIMA professional and regional WhatsApp groups that you can benefit from. These groups are a chance to network and discuss topical issues with colleagues in your professional area(s) and/or region.
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