Commission VIII of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI) has urged the government to expedite the determination of health istitha'ah (fitness) status for prospective Hajj pilgrims. This step is expected to be taken early on, specifically one year before the scheduled departure, to allow pilgrims ample time to thoroughly prepare their physical condition.
Chairman of Commission VIII of the DPR RI, Marwan Dasopang, emphasized the importance of continuous health assistance during the waiting period prior to departure. According to him, this policy is crucial to prevent disappointment among pilgrims who often find themselves declared medically unfit just shortly before departure.
"We want the health guidance and care process to be conducted intensively for one year. Thus, if in the end a pilgrim still does not meet the requirements after maximum effort, it can be accepted as an inevitable fate without any sense of neglect," Marwan stated at the opening of the National Coordination Meeting (Rakernas) for the Evaluation of the 2026 Hajj Pilgrimage Operations in Jakarta.
In response to the proposal, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) expressed its commitment to implementing a 'health manasik' (health orientation) program starting in 2027. Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, explained that this program is part of the evaluation results of the 2026 Hajj operations, which will focus on enhancing physical assistance for prospective pilgrims.
This policy is expected to establish better health standardization for all Indonesian prospective Hajj pilgrims. A comprehensive evaluation of this policy will continue to be jointly discussed by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and Commission VIII of the DPR RI to ensure Hajj services operate more effectively and humanely in the future.
