Indonesia uses International Patient Summary to facilitate pilgrims' medical treatment

Using the experience gained from the Covid-19 pandemic, Indonesia has become one of the first countries in the world to tap on the WHO-standard International Patient Summary (IPS) initiative to monitor the health conditions of Hajj pilgrims from Indonesia and successfully implemented it on a large scale. Every year, around 200,000 Muslims make the Hajj pilgrimage, a mandatory religious duty, from Indonesia to Saudi Arabia. 

To GovInsider, Ministry of Health's Head of Hajj Health Centre Liliek Marhaendro Susilo says that over 200,000 Indonesian Hajj pilgrims have been provided with Hajj Pilgrims Health Cards (KKJH) that come equipped with IPS QR codes containing information about their health during this year’s Hajj.  

"By scanning the QR code, Hajj health workers or hospitals in Saudi Arabia can find out the health information and vaccine history of the pilgrim to determine the right medical action," he explains.  

This makes Indonesia the first country to implement an QR code that can be scanned directly without special app. Other countries still require a special app or website to access the QR code data, claims Liliek.  

Indonesia is the largest Hajj departure country in the world. This year, the country has sent 241,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. 

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IPS speeds up medical treatment in Saudi Arabia 

The pilgrim card integrates pilgrims’ data stored in the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Hajj Information System (SISKOHAT) with the electronic medical record (EMR) system on the SATUSEHAT platform, developed by the Ministry of Health's Centre for Data and Information Technology-Digital Transformation Office (DTO).  

The pilgrim card also stores demographic information, pre-departure medical check-up results, medical history, vaccination status, allergies, current medications, and health coaching history in a format that can be recognised globally.  

Liliek explains that almost 40 per cent of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims are elderly people who have high health risks and require prompt treatment. In previous years, patients often waited a long time before receiving medical treatment because they had to undergo observation and re-examination.  

"With the IPS, the Saudi hospital can quickly identify the patient's illness, find out what routine medications the patient is taking, and what their allergies are." 

Hajj is a form of worship with a lot of physical activity over a long period of time, so the Hajj assistance team from Indonesia’s Ministry of Health must ensure that every pilgrim is healthy and able to complete the series of worship. However, there are often cases of pilgrims who collapse during worship and need immediate help.  

KKJH makes it easier for the Hajj assistance team to provide emergency treatment according to the pilgrims' illness and take them to the nearest clinic or hospital for further treatment, he adds. 

There are 14 Saudi Arabian hospitals that have cooperated with the Indonesian government. Saudi authorities have also given permission to the Indonesian government to set up emergency clinics for observation and treatment. 

Based on the 2024 Hajj report, 462 Indonesian pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia this year, down from 773 the previous year. As many as 256 (55 per cent) who died were over 60 years old, with heart disease and pneumonia as leading causes.

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Hajj health requirements will be stricter 

The Ministry of Health also uses the health cards to monitor the health of prospective pilgrims. Based on past experience, there are still many pilgrims who arrive at Mecca with comorbid conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes. 

Next year, the medical examination process will be conducted more strictly, and pilgrims will need to pass additional assessments from the Ministry of Health's office in each district and city, including mental and cognitive assessments, as well as examinations to measure their ability to carry out daily activities. This applies to elderly pilgrims and non-elderly pilgrims who have comorbidities. 

"The examination depends on the type of illness suffered by each candidate. For example, heart patients or advanced renal failure are not allowed to depart next year,” he adds.  

The Ministry of Health will also evaluate the assessment teams at district health offices that pass high-risk pilgrims and prepare more specific health assessment guidelines and a certification process for the assessment teams.  

According to Liliek, there will be more high-risk candidates in the future as Indonesia's Hajj queue can reach decades. Currently, 5.4 million people have secured seats to go on Hajj, while the quota provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is around 200,000 each year.  

He urges high-risk Hajj candidates to have a medical check-up now and undergo the necessary therapy. If the Hajj pilgrim is no longer fit to go, the seat can be given to his/her family according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs' regulations. 

This article was originally published in Bahasa Indonesia.