Saudi health authorities have introduced virtual medical consultations for Muslims gathering in the kingdom to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage that began Friday.
The kingdom’s Ministry of Health announced that the online consultations are available 24/7 via the hotline 937, the Sehaty app, and the X platform. This service ensures pilgrims have access to credible consultations and necessary medical guidance anytime and anywhere during the Hajj rituals.
Available in six languages—Arabic, English, French, Turkish, Persian, and Urdu—the service allows pilgrims to receive medical consultations through audio, video, or text formats. Additionally, files can be attached, and electronic prescriptions can be obtained.
Saudi authorities have deployed thousands of medical professionals to serve the pilgrims. The Ministry of Health has mobilized over 32,000 medical and administrative personnel across health facilities, including mobile clinics in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina and other sacred sites, to provide comprehensive medical services for the pilgrims.
This dedicated team includes more than 5,000 doctors across various specialties, offering round-the-clock emergency care and quick response assistance at 183 well-equipped healthcare establishments, which include 32 hospitals, 151 medical centers, and six mobile clinics. These facilities feature intensive care units and treatments for sunstroke.
Given the hot to extremely hot weather expected during the Hajj season, with temperatures forecast to range from 45 to 48 degrees Celsius in Mecca and Medina, Saudi authorities have implemented measures to mitigate the heat's impact. These measures include cooling roads, pedestrian walkways, and installing misting fans and umbrellas at the holy places.
