The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have announced a significant expansion of the Hajj health card initiative, aimed at enhancing healthcare for the approximately 3 million pilgrims who attend the annual Hajj. This digital health card is integrated with the WHO Global Digital Health Certification Network and contains vital health information, including medication requirements, allergies, immunization status, and pre-existing conditions. This allows pilgrims to manage their health data effectively and ensures that healthcare providers have access to up-to-date medical information.
Dr. Jeremy Farrar, WHO Chief Scientist, emphasized the importance of this collaboration in facilitating access to safe and personalized healthcare. The initiative has already seen over 250,000 health cards issued to pilgrims from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Oman as part of a successful pilot program in 2024.
The partnership aims to enhance the safety and care quality for Hajj pilgrims through digital health solutions, while also contributing to broader health system improvements in the Eastern Mediterranean region and beyond. The WHO’s Global Digital Health Certification Network now includes over 80 countries, promoting the secure exchange of health credentials to streamline healthcare access and improve international collaboration.
