Maak Health Initiative: Proactive care for 62,000 domestic pilgrims

As part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's tireless efforts to serve the pilgrims, the Makkah Health Cluster launched the "With You Health" initiative, which successfully provided proactive health monitoring and comprehensive care to more than 62,875 domestic pilgrims. This initiative aims to enhance the pilgrims' well-being and ensure the continuity of medical care provided to them throughout their spiritual journey, from the pre-Hajj preparations, through the days of Tashreeq and the holy sites, until their safe return home.

Saudi leadership in crowd management and healthcare

Historically, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has continuously developed its healthcare system dedicated to Hajj and Umrah seasons to keep pace with the steadily increasing number of pilgrims. With the launch of Vision 2030, the healthcare sector has undergone a qualitative transformation based on digital technologies and preventive and proactive medicine. Healthcare is no longer limited to providing treatment in hospitals and field centers within the holy sites, but has evolved into a smart model that anticipates the medical needs of pilgrims before their arrival. This initiative is a tangible embodiment of this digital and preventive transformation, contributing to reducing pressure on emergency medical facilities through continuous monitoring and early intervention to protect those most vulnerable to health risks.

Stages of the "With You Health" initiative to serve the pilgrims

relies The Maak Health Initiative on a precise and organized work mechanism that is divided into three basic stages to ensure comprehensive health coverage:

• Pre-Hajj phase: The initiative begins by establishing automated and interactive contact with registered pilgrims to verify their completion of mandatory vaccinations, such as those for seasonal influenza and meningococcal meningitis. Pilgrims' medical histories are also recorded, identifying those with chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. This data is then analyzed and provided to field medical personnel to ensure they are prepared.
• During the Hajj rituals, on-site and virtual monitoring continues through a specialized team working via a unified number to ensure the stability of pilgrims' health and the availability of necessary medications. If any pilgrim misses their medication, a report is immediately sent through the system to secure an alternative treatment as quickly as possible.
• Post-Hajj phase: The relationship does not end once the rituals are over; the initiative is keen to measure the pilgrims’ satisfaction with the services provided, and to collect their opinions to develop the system in the coming seasons, while directing them to local health centers to follow up on their condition when needed.

The regional and international impact of proactive healthcare in Hajj

The Saudi experience in managing mass gatherings has garnered widespread praise from the World Health Organization and other international public health organizations. The success of this proactive care model is not only reflected locally but also serves as an inspiring global example of how to manage health crises and prevent epidemics during large gatherings. This positive impact strengthens the Kingdom's position as a leading international authority in mass gathering medicine, ensuring the safety of hundreds of thousands of people from diverse nationalities and health backgrounds, and contributing to regional and global health security by preventing the spread of transboundary diseases.