Stricter Health Screening Key to Reducing Number of Ill Hajj Pilgrims

The number of Hajj pilgrims who fell ill following the peak phase of Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina (Armuzna) in the 2026 Hajj season has declined significantly compared to the same period last year. The tightening of health fitness (istitaah) requirements before departure is considered the key factor behind this achievement.

Acting Head of the Hajj Health Centre at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Dani Pramudya, revealed that during the 2026 Hajj season, a total of 210 pilgrims required medical treatment. This figure is down from 300 pilgrims recorded during the 2025 season.

According to Dani, this result is inseparable from the ministry’s policy of tightening health screening at home. “Alhamdulillah, with the istitaah regulation, we conducted a lot of selection at the embarkation points,” Dani said at the Indonesian Hajj Health Office in Mecca on Thursday.

Dani explained that the stricter screening at embarkation filtered out around 300 prospective pilgrims who were ultimately deemed unfit to travel. They had to be prevented from departing to the Holy Land for their own safety and health. “Alhamdulillah, with the tightening of istitaah, the rate of illness has also decreased,” he added.

Dani detailed the two most dominant illnesses among the pilgrims treated this year. The highest number of cases involved respiratory tract disorders or shortness of breath, mostly triggered by age and physical exhaustion. “Many of them were so fatigued they ended up short of breath,” Dani said. In addition to exhaustion, these respiratory problems were triggered by pilgrims’ pre-existing medical histories, such as chronic coughs or a history of tuberculosis. Vulnerable lung conditions were then activated by strenuous physical activity during the Armuzna phase.

The second most prevalent illness found in the field was heart attack. “Heart [attacks], possibly due to a history of high blood pressure, and also diabetes,” Dani stated.

Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, said the mortality rate for the 2026 Hajj fell drastically thanks to the tightening of health fitness requirements and managerial improvements. Most pilgrims underwent the istitaah health examination at community health centres or hospitals after being designated as pilgrims entitled to final payment by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

The health fitness of prospective Indonesian Hajj pilgrims for the 1447H/2026M season has become a serious concern for both the Indonesian government and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.