Commission VIII of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI) expressed its full support for the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's plan regarding the implementation of a mandatory health guidance (manasik) program for prospective Hajj pilgrims starting in 2027. This policy is seen as a strategic step to strengthen the aspect of istita'ah, or the health capability of pilgrims, while aligning with strict regulations applied by Saudi Arabian authorities.
Member of Commission VIII DPR RI, Mahdalena, emphasized that this program must not become merely an administrative procedure. She stressed the importance of making health manasik a primary filter to mitigate the risk of medical emergencies and reduce the mortality rate of Indonesian pilgrims while performing worship abroad.
Furthermore, the program is expected to provide space for medical teams to carry out early intervention for pilgrims with comorbid histories. The manasik material should subsequently include comprehensive education, ranging from medication management and balanced nutrition to methods of mitigating health risks such as extreme dehydration and respiratory infections in the Saudi Arabian environment.
The legislator from the PKB Fraction also highlighted the need for uniform standardization across all regions and Hajj and Umrah Guidance Groups (KBIHU). According to her, the success of this policy depends on the collective commitment of all Hajj organizing bodies to be firm in enforcing health eligibility rules to ensure the safety and comfort of pilgrims during worship.
