WHO supports Saudi Arabia’s Hajj Health Card scheme to improve health services for pilgrims worldwide

The Hajj Health Card is based on the public key infrastructure of the WHO Global Digital Health Authentication Network and integrates key health information including medication needs, allergies, immunization status and past medical history. This card gives pilgrims control over their personal health information so that they can provide accurate and real-time patient health summaries to authorized medical providers when they travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj, thereby enjoying personalized high-quality medical services.

WHO Chief Scientist Farrar said the collaboration marks significant progress in WHO’s efforts to promote the popularization of safer, people-centered digital health tools in its member states.

Improving the safety of pilgrims and the quality of medical services

The Hajj is the world’s largest religious pilgrimage, attracting nearly 3 million pilgrims from more than 180 countries each year. In 2024, more than 250,000 pilgrims from Indonesia, Malaysia and Oman received Hajj health cards as part of a pilot collaboration between WHO and Saudi Arabia. The pilot project demonstrated that countries can use global standards to issue their own national versions of health cards, thereby improving the safety and quality of medical services for pilgrims during the Hajj.

Based on the success of this collaboration, WHO and Saudi Arabia have reached a further cooperation agreement to improve the Hajj Health Card project and expand its coverage. The expertise and support provided by the Saudi government and its digital implementation partner LEAN will further enhance data security and provide necessary technical assistance to more countries joining the Hajj Health Card project.

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Director, Hamid Barshi, noted that this partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and WHO aims to expand the coverage of the Hajj Health Card scheme, which will enhance the safety and well-being of millions of pilgrims.

80 countries join WHO Digital Health Certification Network

WHO launched the Global Digital Health Certification Network in 2023, and more than 80 WHO member states have joined the network. These countries have established a system for mutual verification of the authenticity of health information using the new International Organization for Standardization standard, the International Patient Summary.