Muslim patients in the UK regularly have concerns about the halal status of their medicines – yet most never raise them with their pharmacist or prescriber. They simply stop taking their medicines, silently.
This session, delivered by HalalMed co-founders Nabiha Butt and Regina Ahmed, explores why faith-based medicines queries represent a genuine adherence and patient safety issue, not just a cultural one. Through real-world case studies –from a patient silently discontinuing omeprazole capsules, to a family facing a critical care decision – attendees will see how these conversations arise in practice and what confident, person-centred responses look like.
The session introduces the HalalMed platform: a free, pharmacist-led resource offering an ingredient checker, colour-coded classification system, Islamic guidance library, and pharmaceutical email templates – equipping pharmacists to support informed, faith-aligned shared decision-making.

• Learning Outcomes
• By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• • Recognise how halal-related medicines concerns – including animal-derived excipients, ingredient sourcing, and the principles of necessity (ḍarūrah) – directly affect patient adherence, safety, and trust in frontline pharmacy settings
• • Apply HalalMed's classification system and ingredient checker to identify and respond to halal-status queries quickly and confidently at the point of care
• • Communicate effectively with patients about faith-based medicines concerns, including how to explain the Islamic principle of necessity when no halal alternative exists
• • Utilise HalalMed's practical resources – including manufacturer email templates and patient-facing guides – to support informed, documented, shared decision-making in both primary and secondary care settings