Saudi Arabia (Washington Insider Magazine) – The World Health Organization (WHO) and Saudi Arabia have announced an expansion of the Hajj health card initiative, leveraging the WHO Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN). This initiative aims to enhance the safety and quality of care for the roughly 3 million pilgrims who travel to Saudi Arabia annually.
The Hajj health card provides critical health information, including medication needs, allergies, immunization records, and pre-existing conditions. Pilgrims can share this data securely with authorized health providers, ensuring personalized and efficient medical care.
Following a successful pilot involving 250,000 pilgrims from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Oman, WHO and Saudi Arabia plan to scale the program to more countries. With over 80 nations now part of the GDHCN, the initiative marks a significant step toward global digital health integration, streamlining cross-border healthcare, and improving international patient data security.
