Launch of the volunteer health program for Hajj with the participation of 30 universities
The Primary Healthcare Charitable Society, in cooperation with relevant government agencies, announced the launch of volunteer health program for Hajj , serving pilgrims during the 1447 AH Hajj season. This pioneering program aims to provide field and preventative medical care in the holy sites, ensuring the safety and health of pilgrims as they perform their rituals with ease and peace of mind.
A distinguished history of healthcare for pilgrims
Over the past decades, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has placed great importance on the health and safety of pilgrims, recognizing that providing medical services is an integral part of crowd management during the Hajj season. This program is a continuation of the Kingdom's longstanding commitment to dedicating all available human and material resources to serving pilgrims. The program was launched by the Primary Healthcare Charitable Association "Dirham Wiqaya," in close strategic partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Makkah Health Cluster (represented by King Abdullah Medical City), and Umm Al-Qura University. Over the past seventeen years, the program has evolved into a cornerstone of the medical volunteer system during the Hajj season.
Regional and international impact of the Hajj volunteer health program efforts
The impact of the Hajj Volunteer Health Program extends beyond the local level, encompassing regional and international dimensions that reflect the Kingdom's leadership in medicine and crowd management. Through broad participation, including male and female volunteers representing more than 30 local and international universities from various health-related colleges, the program presents a global model of humanitarian solidarity. This diversity enriches the exchange of medical expertise among young professionals from around the world, enhancing the efficiency of rapid emergency response and showcasing the Kingdom's positive image of humanitarian and volunteer work to the international community.
Global quality standards and specialized field clinics
This health event is under the direct and intensive supervision of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Ministry of Health, and the National Center for the Development of the Non-Profit Sector, to ensure the application of the highest international quality standards in the provision of care. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association, Dr. Jasser Al-Shehri, announced the launch of a package of effective field and preventative health initiatives to raise the level of medical preparedness.
The most prominent of these initiatives is the operation of four fully equipped health clinics along the pedestrian route connecting Arafat and Muzdalifah for the second consecutive year, under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. The operational plan also includes activating mobile clinics to provide initial examinations and immediate treatment for cases of heat exhaustion, fatigue, foot problems, and chronic illnesses that pilgrims may encounter.
An innovative volunteer model and official documentation of efforts
Dr. Jasser Al-Shehri explained the association's mission, saying, "Through our programs, we work to instill the concept of prevention before treatment by raising health awareness and providing care for patients with chronic diseases." This field-based volunteer model was specifically designed to align with the nature and challenges of the Hajj season, monitoring the most common risks and injuries such as heatstroke and physical exhaustion.
He noted the complete readiness to empower health volunteers to perform their professional roles within a structured environment. To guarantee the rights of volunteers, it was emphasized that the volunteer hours of all participating staff are officially documented and accredited through the National Volunteer Work Platform, as well as through the Health Volunteer Platform.
The program's core objective is to achieve qualitative integration across various sectors to develop innovative solutions in crowd medicine and management, thereby reducing critical cases. This continued launch is a culmination of the program's successive successes, most recently culminating in its winning first place in the Excellence in Service to Pilgrims Award at the 2025 Hajj Conference and Exhibition, underscoring the quality of its outputs and the significant humanitarian and health impact it has had.
