Virtual medical consultations for pilgrims: Ways to contact the Ministry of Health

A digital revolution in service of the pilgrims

In a move reflecting the ongoing development of the healthcare sector, the Saudi Ministry of Health, represented by the Seha Virtual Hospital, announced the continuation of virtual medical consultation services for pilgrims during the Hajj season. This initiative aims to enhance access to healthcare and enable pilgrims to receive accurate and timely medical guidance, fully aligning with the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program stemming from Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Historical context and digital transformation in healthcare

Historically, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has dedicated all its material and human resources to serving pilgrims to the Holy Mosque in Mecca. Healthcare has traditionally relied primarily on field hospitals and health centers located throughout the holy sites. With rapid technological advancements and the launch of Vision 2030, the Kingdom has moved towards digitizing healthcare services. The “Virtual Health Hospital,” launched as the world’s largest virtual hospital, represents the culmination of these efforts, providing specialized medical care that transcends geographical boundaries, thus marking a qualitative leap in the history of medical services provided during Hajj.

Ways to contact them to obtain virtual medical consultations for pilgrims

These services are provided through an integrated digital system led by the virtual health hospital, which enables remote medical consultations via several convenient channels, including:

• The unified number 937: The Ministry of Health explained that the 937 call center services are offered in seven international languages ​​to cover the largest possible segment of pilgrims. These languages ​​include Arabic, English, French, Turkish, Persian, Urdu, and Indonesian. This linguistic diversity helps break down language barriers and facilitates effective communication with pilgrims of different nationalities.
• The “My Health” app allows pilgrims to obtain immediate medical consultations through multiple channels (audio, video, and text). It also provides the ability to share previous medical reports, discuss test results, and easily issue and fill prescriptions electronically.
• X platform: To provide rapid support and answer urgent health inquiries.

Advanced field support via the “Consult Plus” service

As part of its support for healthcare services on the ground, the virtual health hospital's role extends beyond individuals to include providing specialized remote consultations to health centers and hospitals in Mecca and Medina through its "Consult Plus" service. This service is available in both Arabic and English, and also supports domestic and international Hajj campaigns, thus enhancing the efficiency of healthcare services and improving the quality of care provided during the Hajj season.

The local and international impact of digitizing Hajj health

This digital development has a significant impact on several levels. Locally, providing virtual medical consultations contributes to increased response efficiency and reduces the immense pressure on health facilities and hospitals in the holy sites, allowing medical staff to focus on critical and emergency cases. Regionally and internationally, this step reinforces the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in mass gathering medicine. Providing advanced digital healthcare sends a reassuring message to the Muslim world that their pilgrims are receiving safe and effective care according to the highest international standards.

In conclusion, these tremendous efforts come within an integrated digital health system that primarily aims to enhance the pilgrim’s health experience by providing flexible and accessible services that meet the needs of millions of pilgrims and ensure that the rituals are performed in a safe and stable health environment.