The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have announced a significant advancement in digital health collaboration, expanding the Hajj health card initiative to support the 3 million pilgrims who make the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
This initiative is part of the WHO’s Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN), aimed at improving healthcare access for pilgrims from over 180 countries.
The Hajj health card, built on WHO’s public key infrastructure, provides a digital summary of critical health information, including medications, allergies, immunization records, and pre-existing conditions. Pilgrims can securely share their health data with authorized healthcare providers during their visit, ensuring accurate and personalized care.
“This marks notable progress in WHO’s efforts to expand access to safer, person-centered digital health tools,” said Dr. Jeremy Farrar, WHO Chief Scientist. “We are grateful for the collaboration with Saudi Arabia and look forward to further strengthening digital health systems globally.”
The pilot program, launched in 2024, issued over 250,000 Hajj health cards to pilgrims from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Oman, successfully demonstrating the use of global standards in issuing digital health certifications. Following the pilot’s success, WHO and Saudi Arabia will expand the program, with technical support from Saudi Arabia’s digital partner, LEAN, to enhance data security and enable more countries to join.
Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, highlighted the partnership’s impact: “This collaboration enhances the safety and well-being of millions of pilgrims by leveraging digital health solutions to improve care quality and strengthen health systems globally.”
The GDHCN, launched in 2023, now includes over 80 countries. The network uses a secure encryption system that allows health credentials to be verified across borders without compromising privacy. By joining, countries can improve healthcare access for travelers and streamline processes such as border control and health services, laying the foundation for future advancements in global health collaboration.
