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Medical Care During Ramadan, Feb. 17 to March 19
Dear Colleagues:
Please read this important note relevant to the medical care of patients observing Ramadan, which Ramadan, which is expected to begin the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 17, and end at sundown Thursday, March 19. One of the fundamental principles in observing this holy month for followers of Islam is fasting.
Fasting takes place during daylight and this includes not taking oral medications during this time. As a result, medications are taken after sunset and prior to dawn. Please be aware of this fact and ask patients if they will be observing Ramadan. If so, it would be prudent to discuss a medication plan with them to insure optimal medical care while they observe this holy month. Patients using insulin for management of diabetes can have particular challenges during the fasting periods. Similarly challenging are when multiple doses of a medication are required throughout the day.
Please note that intra-muscular injections are permitted, including the COVID vaccine.
Those who cannot safely fast, including people who are intellectually or developmentally disabled, or are acutely or chronically ill, are excused from fasting. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may opt in or out of fasting and are encouraged to excuse themselves if they have concerns over their health or their child’s. Some may choose to fast, and a conversation about care in this circumstance is warranted. Children generally begin participating in fasting around the age of 10 and this can vary by family.
I hope you find this useful in the care of patients observing Ramadan. For additional context, here is a resource written by one of our medical student graduates. Also, you can review “Muslim patients in Ramadan: A review for primary care physicians” for more information. General information about Ramadan can be found here.
An appropriate greeting for Ramadan is Ramadan Kareem or Ramadan Mubarak.
Fern R. Hauck, MD, MS, FAAFP (she/her)
Professor of Family Medicine
Professor of Public Health Sciences
Director of Research and Faculty Development
Director, International Family Medicine Clinic
University of Virginia Department of Family Medicine
Ramadan overlaps with Lent, a season of fasting in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. We must remember the many Eastern Rite Catholic immigrants from places all over the world such as Ukraine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, India, and Mexico. Unlike the majority of US Catholics, Eastern Rite Catholics and Orthodox Christians observe a stringent season of fasting known as The Great Fast, lasting from February 18-April 5 of 2026. The practice of fasting varies greatly among the Rites, some Rites allowing the consumption of only one small meal per day that must be vegan, and after sunset. It is important to inquire about the fasting requirements for each patient anticipating an individualized and culturally sensitive care plan. An appropriate greeting for Lent is “Have a Blessed Lent” or “Have a fruitful Lent.”