WHO and Saudi Arabia unveil new digital health partnership to support Hajj pilgrims

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced a significant new digital health collaboration today, aimed at expanding the Hajj health card initiative to support the nearly 3 million pilgrims who journey to Mecca each year.

The Hajj health card, built on WHO’s Global Digital Health Certification Network’s public key infrastructure, provides a secure summary of critical health details such as medications, allergies, immunizations, and pre-existing conditions. This digital tool empowers pilgrims by allowing them to manage and authorize access to their health information, enabling accurate and personalized care during their pilgrimage.

“This collaboration marks a major step forward in WHO’s efforts to provide Member States with person-centered digital health tools that improve access to quality healthcare when and where it’s needed,” said Dr. Jeremy Farrar, WHO Chief Scientist. “We are grateful for the strong partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, participating nations, and the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Office, as we continue building capacity in countries moving toward more digital health systems.”

Hajj is the world’s largest annual pilgrimage, drawing millions of participants from over 180 countries. In 2024, over 250,000 pilgrims from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Oman received Hajj health cards as part of a pilot program by WHO and Saudi Arabia. This pilot allowed each country to create their own national version of the card using global standards, successfully improving safety and quality of care.

WHO and Saudi Arabia are committed to expanding this program, with support from the Saudi government and digital partner LEAN to enhance data security and technical assistance for other participating countries.

“This collaboration between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and WHO to expand the Hajj health card initiative is critical for the safety and well-being of millions of pilgrims,” said Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO). “By utilizing digital health solutions, we are not only enhancing quality of care but also strengthening health systems globally.”

WHO’s Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN), launched in 2023 with support from the European Union, now connects over 80 WHO Member States. Built on ISO’s International Patient Summary (IPS) standard and PKI encryption, the GDHCN ensures health credentials remain secure and verifiable across borders, allowing people to manage their health information with ease while traveling or accessing healthcare abroad.

This global initiative lays the foundation for future applications in international healthcare, such as cross-border e-prescriptions, insurance claims, and telemedicine, fostering a future where people can carry internationally recognized health credentials for seamless, informed healthcare access worldwide.