The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have announced a major digital health collaboration to expand the Hajj health card initiative, supporting the nearly 3 million pilgrims who participate in the annual pilgrimage. This initiative, built on WHO’s Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN), aims to enhance health care access and safety for pilgrims by providing a digital health card that summarizes key health information such as medications, allergies, immunization status, and pre-existing conditions.
The Hajj health card allows individuals to control their own health data and share it with authorized healthcare providers during their pilgrimage, ensuring personalized and up-to-date care. Dr. Jeremy Farrar, WHO’s Chief Scientist, praised the collaboration, saying, “Today marks significant progress in WHO’s support to expand access to safer, person-centered digital health tools for better quality care.”
The Hajj is the world’s largest pilgrimage, attracting nearly 3 million pilgrims annually from over 180 countries. In 2024, over 250,000 pilgrims from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Oman were issued Hajj health cards as part of a successful pilot program. WHO and Saudi Arabia now aim to extend the initiative, with Saudi Arabia’s digital partner LEAN providing crucial technical support to improve data security and expand the program to more countries.
Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, highlighted the impact of the initiative, stating, “This exciting partnership enhances the safety and well-being of millions of pilgrims by leveraging digital health solutions to strengthen care quality and health systems.”
The GDHCN, launched in 2023, builds on global standards and includes over 80 WHO member states. It aims to create a future where people can carry internationally recognized health credentials, improving healthcare access and travel for individuals worldwide.
