DPR Hajj Supervisory Team Reviews Drug Distribution and Health Services for Pilgrims in Makkah

The Indonesian Hajj Supervisory Team (Timwas) of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) for 2026, Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal, on Thursday, 21 May 2026, visited Snood Mawteen Hotel, Sector 8, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to inspect the distribution of medicines and health services for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims. The hotel houses around 2,099 pilgrims from Cirebon, Bekasi, Tasikmalaya, Palembang, Bandung, and Magelang. During the visit, Timwas Haji directly inspected health services in the pilgrims’ lodging sector, one of the crucial points ahead of the peak of the Hajj. Cucun said that despite the tight Saudi regulations on Hajj health services, Indonesia is still able to operate satellite health facilities at each lodging. In a sector, there are up to four satellite health facilities functioning as initial treatment points before pilgrims are referred to the Indonesian Hajj Health Office (KKHI) in Aziziyah. ‘Praise be to God, this year we can still open satellite health facilities at every lodging. This provides initial handling before pilgrims are taken to KKHI,’ he said. He noted that this year’s Hajj health services are strengthened through collaboration with several private hospitals in Saudi Arabia, including Saudi German Hospital and other hospitals in the Makkah and Madinah regions. He said the arrangement helps speed up handling for pilgrims requiring further medical tests such as laboratories or X-rays. Nevertheless, Timwas Haji found some obstacles in medicine distribution at several satellite health facilities. The issue is attributed to the management of the Hajj Health Centre being under the Ministry of Health, meaning the health logistics distribution process is not yet fully optimal. ‘There are still some minor issues regarding the availability of medicines and their distribution to each sector and satellite health facility,’ he said. Therefore, they urged that the medicine distribution system and the staffing of health workers be more integrated to make pilgrim health services more optimal. Cucun also welcomed the rising awareness of pilgrims about the importance of maintaining health while in the Holy Land. He noted that pilgrims are now more routinely checking their blood pressure and physical condition at the sector satellites. ‘Pilgrims at high risk are now fewer. The awareness to check health daily is also improving,’ he said. According to Cucun, this is linked to the role of health workers who are on 24-hour standby to accompany pilgrims in the lodging. The sector medical team is seen as the front line in preventing pilgrims’ health from deteriorating, especially ahead of Armuzna, a period associated with dense activity and extreme weather. Cucun emphasised that strengthening health services will be the main focus of the Indonesian DPR’s oversight of forthcoming Hajj arrangements, noting that rapid and equitable health care is crucial to safeguarding pilgrims’ safety, particularly for the elderly and those with accompanying illnesses.