Hajj Candidate Can Get Additional Protection from Heat Risk when Armuzna Through Health Insurance

JAKARTA - The Saudi Arabian authorities are expanding the scope of insurance coverage for prospective pilgrims during the peak of the hajj pilgrimage in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina (Armuzna), which now also includes protection against the risk of disease due to extreme hot weather.

Head of the Makkah District Health Section, Saudi Arabia Hajj Organizing Task Force (PPIH) Edi Supriyatna explained that the change in the health insurance clause had been informed by the local authorities to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj).

"Especially on 8 Dzulhijjah to 13 Dzulhijjah, or during the peak of the hajj, pilgrims can use insurance if they experience heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke," said Edi as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, April 30.

The three categories of health disorders included in the new clause include heat cramps or painful muscle cramps due to loss of fluids and electrolytes. Then heat exhaustion which is characterized by extreme fatigue, nausea, and rapid heartbeat due to dehydration at high temperatures.

Finally, heat stroke, an emergency medical condition where body temperature rises drastically to 40 degrees Celsius. This condition can be fatal if you do not immediately get medical help because the body temperature regulation mechanism fails.

Responding to the weather challenges in the Holy Land, PPIH urged pilgrims to prepare themselves and maintain hydration patterns. Pilgrims are advised to drink at least 200 milliliters of water every hour slowly, i.e. four sips every 10 minutes, to prevent dehydration as well as excessive toilet intensity.

"Drinking is mandatory. In addition, pilgrims need to prepare supporting tools such as fans, water spray, and cloths that can be moistened to relieve the heat," said Edi.

With the expansion of insurance coverage and the physical readiness of pilgrims, the risk of fatality due to extreme weather during the peak Hajj procession in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina is expected to be minimized.

However, Edi emphasized that the expansion of the claim only applies during the peak period of the hajj. If health disorders due to heat occur before 8 or after 13 Dzulhijjah, then the medical expenses cannot be claimed to the insurance and become the responsibility of the individual pilgrim.

However, the government provides the Indonesian Hajj Health Clinic (KKHI) Makkah Working Area (Daker) in the 2026 Hajj season which presents a new service system with the concept of Urgent Care Center (UCC) which operates for 24 hours.

He explained that in the implementation of the UCC service, patient handling was strictly divided based on the level of urgency. Patients with severe cases (level 1-2) will be immediately referred to hospitals owned by the Government of Saudi Arabia, moderate cases (level 3) are handled at the KKHI facility, while mild cases (level 4-5) are managed by a cluster team at satellite health posts.

To support the smooth operation of the 24-hour service, as many as 122 health personnel have been alerted. This number consists of 54 officers at the Makkah KKHI and 68 officers who are spread across 10 sectors. The KKHI has also been equipped with supporting facilities such as radiology and laboratories that are not available at the sector health post level.