Centre seeks names of Muslim doctors from states to accompany Hajj pilgrims

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: The ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) has written to states and Union territories (UTs), seeking names of serving Muslim male and female doctors as well as paramedics to accompany Indian Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. These medical professionals for Hajj medical deputation will help provide healthcare services in Saudi Arabia at facilities manned by Indian doctors.

Every year, thousands of Indian Muslims go on the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia. This year, India has got a quota of 175,025 Hajj pilgrims as per a bilateral agreement signed in January with Saudi Arabia. The ministry has requested the states/UTs to appoint a nodal officer to send nominations of deputationists to the directorate general of health services at the health ministry by 7 February.

Also Read | Medical education regulator looks to tighten rules to hire faculty “The Hajj pilgrimage, being a large scale mass gathering, requires preparedness in the form of medical screening, vaccinations of the pilgrims, constant monitoring of the health of these pilgrims throughout the period. MoHFW seeks your support and cooperation to ensure a safe, hassle-free, and seamless Hajj pilgrimage 2025 with minimal health challenges," health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said in her letter to the states/UTs, as seen by Mint. The nominee should be a serving Muslim, permanent employee in government health facilities in the age bracket of 25-55 years for doctors, and 25-45 years for paramedics.