Easing pre-Hajj medical tests

As the Hajj season approaches, registered pilgrims from Bangladesh are making preparations for pilgrimage. The government is providing information and taking necessary steps to facilitate the journey. This year, about 76,760 will perform Hajj in Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), during the last week of May. The KSA government had allocated a quota of 78,500 devotees to Bangladesh, of which 1,740 slots remained unfulfilled and, therefore, had to be returned. Last year, 85,257 pilgrims from Bangladesh performed Hajj against the allotted quota of 127,000. Since 33 per cent of the quota remained unused last year, the KSA has cut the quota for Bangladesh this year. Still, that reduced quota has not been fully used, indicating the fact that the rising costs of performing Hajj have gone beyond the reach of many people.

In 2018, the highest number of pilgrims from Bangladesh performed the Hajj. The number was 127,298. This year, among the total registered pilgrims, some 4,259 will perform the Hajj under government management, and the remaining 72,344 will do the same under private management.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. All physically capable and mentally sound Muslims with the financial capacity must perform Hajj at least once in their lifetime. Of course, it is obligatory if these conditions are met. Hajj takes place each year between the 8th and 12th of Dhul Hijjah in the Islamic lunar year, so the Gregorian date varies. In 2026, Hajj will be from May 25 to 29, depending on the sighting of the moon. Pilgrims worldwide will start arriving in Makkah from the second week of April. Though it is a spiritual journey, Hajj also has a significant economic impact.

Over the years, the government of Bangladesh has taken steps to improve Hajj-related services so that pilgrims can perform their spiritual journey smoothly. Pre-registration throughout the year, strict monitoring of travel agencies, and availability of information on the online Hajj portal are among those services.

Bangladesh has also joined the Makkah Route Initiative, activated by the KSA government in 2019. Under the initiative, the immigration formalities for pilgrims during their departure are conducted at the Dhaka Hajj Camp, and the KSA arrival immigration formalities are conducted at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. It means, after arrival in Jeddah or Madinah, pilgrims can directly exit the airport and board on buses to go to their hotels. Since 2023, check-in luggage has also been delivered directly to pilgrims in Makkah, so they only carry their cabin luggage when departing from KSA and do not need to wait for the collection of their main luggage.

Nevertheless, there is still room for making travel easier. However, the Bangladesh government's latest instruction on pre-Hajj medical examinations may make the process more complex. Until last year, pilgrims could complete medical tests at private diagnostic centres selected by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) or at government hospitals. Last week, the government instructed Hajj pilgrims to complete medical tests only at government hospitals. To undergo the medical tests at these hospitals may create some hassles for the pilgrims. 

Except for a few, quality of services in these hospitals is not up to the mark. There is also a persistent pressure of patients keeping the hospitals busy almost all the time. Again, the hospitals will not provide the test service free of cost or at a negligible charge. As most of the pilgrims are ready to pay whatever charge is fixed for the pre-Hajj medical tests, they find the private diagnostic centres fast and better-serving institutions. There is also a lack of appropriate privacy in most of the government hospitals while doing tests. Specially women feel uncomfortable there. So, why compel the pilgrims to go there? Aren't the private diagnostic centres licensed by the relevant authorities?

Again, after completing the medical tests, pilgrims must receive the prescribed vaccines. Unlike previous years, pilgrims registered in the Dhaka district now have to go only to the civil surgeon's office for vaccination. Last year, several hospitals provided pre-Hajj vaccinations. The reasons behind these changes are unclear. The authorities need to revise it to allow flexibility in medical tests and vaccinations for pilgrims. The DGHS-licensed private diagnostic centres should be allowed to conduct the pre-Hajj medical check-up and tests of the pilgrims.  

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