Indonesian Hajj Health Clinic in Makkah Implements 24-Hour UCC Service Without Inpatient Facilities

Makkah (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Hajj Health Clinic (KKHI) for the Makkah Working Area will introduce a new service system for the 2026 Hajj season, conceptualised as an Urgent Care Centre (UCC) operating 24 hours a day without providing inpatient facilities for pilgrims.

Head of the Health Section for the Makkah Working Area of the Indonesian Hajj Organising Committee in Saudi Arabia, Edi Supriyatna, in Makkah on Tuesday, stated that this policy represents the main difference compared to the organisation of Hajj health services in previous years.

“This year, there will be no inpatient care at KKHI. Everything will be based on outpatient treatment, procedures, and referrals,” said Edi.

To support the smooth operation of the 24-hour service, 122 health personnel have been prepared. This number consists of 54 staff at KKHI Makkah and 68 staff distributed across 10 sectors. KKHI is also equipped with supporting facilities, such as radiology and laboratory services, which are not available at the sector-level health posts.

Regarding the legality of operations, Edi mentioned that KKHI this year is partnering with a third party, namely Saudi German Hospital, to facilitate service licensing. In accordance with regulations in Saudi Arabia, every health service must collaborate with a local third party.

To meet the service ratio of one clinic per 5,000 prospective Hajj pilgrims, KKHI has prepared around 47 health posts spread across Makkah, Madinah, and the Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina areas (Armuzna).

Edi highlighted the high number of high-risk (risti) prospective Hajj pilgrims this year, exceeding 70 percent, with 30 percent of them being elderly groups.

“This underscores the importance of cross-sector collaboration in providing protection. The elderly require special attention, both in terms of health, transportation, and accommodation,” said Edi.

As a health mitigation measure, Edi urged pilgrims to always maintain their physical condition by regularly consuming at least 200 millilitres of plain water per hour, avoiding excessive heat exposure, and prioritising rest time before performing worship, especially for pilgrims who have just arrived from Madinah.