Haj Minister to Focus 2026 Haj Evaluation on Pilgrim Health Services

Surabaya (ANTARA) - Minister of Haj and Umrah of the Republic of Indonesia Mochamad Irfan Yusuf has stated that the evaluation of the 2026 Haj pilgrimage will focus on improving health services, following a roughly 20 per cent decrease in pilgrim mortality compared to the previous year. “There is one matter that is of particular concern to us, namely health. This year the mortality rate did manage to fall by around 20 per cent, but that is not yet a satisfactory figure. We will further tighten the implementation of health measures,” said Gus Irfan, as he is familiarly known, at the Surabaya Haj Dormitory on Wednesday. He explained that although the pilgrim mortality rate had declined, the government still recorded 367 pilgrims and one Haj officer who died in Saudi Arabia. In addition, he continued, around 60 pilgrims are still undergoing treatment in local hospitals and are being continuously monitored by a team still on duty in Saudi Arabia until the entire service process is completed. According to him, the health aspect will be the main focus so that the quality of service in the next Haj season improves and is able to suppress the pilgrim mortality rate. Besides health, he continued, the government will also evaluate the management of pilgrim flow, especially in Mina, which has limited capacity and thus requires more specialised handling in the coming Haj season. Irfan said the 2026 Haj operations have officially concluded and the Ministry of Haj will soon begin preparations for the 2027 pilgrimage. The evaluation, Irfan said, will serve as the basis for refining various service aspects so that next year’s Haj pilgrimage runs more effectively and provides comfort for Indonesian pilgrims. He also expressed appreciation to all Haj officers, the House of Representatives, the government of Saudi Arabia, the media, and all stakeholders who supported the smooth running of this year’s Haj pilgrimage. “We will strive to do much better,” he said.