DPR Oversight Team: Death Rate Among Pilgrims Decreases as Health Screening Improves

The Chairman of the 2026 Hajj Oversight Team of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal, stated that the death rate of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims for the 1447 Hijri year has decreased compared to last year due to effective health screening processes.

“The number of deaths has declined compared to the previous year. This indicates that health screening and medical management have been executed very well since departure,” Cucun said in Medina, Saudi Arabia, in a written statement received in Jakarta on Monday.

He noted that the government is now more selective in deploying pilgrims, particularly those with high-risk health conditions. Currently, only about 13 pilgrims remain who require ‘safari wukuf’ or ‘badal’ (proxy) services.

Health screening is conducted in multiple layers starting in Indonesia, including medical interviews, assessments of daily activity capabilities, and evaluations of pilgrims’ mental and cognitive conditions. Monitoring continues once pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia.

The DPR has requested that this oversight pattern be strengthened ahead of the peak Hajj period at Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mina (Armuzna). Cucun emphasised that the DPR Hajj Oversight Team will continue its monitoring through the peak phase of the pilgrimage to ensure all services, including healthcare, operate optimally.

Previously, the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, mentioned that the number of pilgrims who passed away in the holy land up to the 22nd day of operations has seen a significant decrease compared to the same period last year. Dahnil stated that this decline is inseparable from the tightening of health examinations, or ‘istithaah’ (health readiness), for prospective pilgrims before departure.

However, he emphasised that the government does not view these figures merely as statistics and remains committed to reducing the number of deaths during the Hajj pelaksanaan. “This [decline] is a result of us being very strict regarding health readiness. I have repeatedly conveyed to the Minister that we must be even stricter. We do not want these figures to be just statistics; we do not want any more deaths,” he added.