Chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Marwan Dasopang, firmly urged the government to expedite the process of determining the istitha'ah or health capability for prospective Hajj pilgrims. This step is projected to begin one year before the departure schedule to ensure that all prospective pilgrims receive adequate health guidance.
During the opening of the National Working Meeting for the Evaluation of the 2026 Hajj Pilgrimage Organization at the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory, Jakarta, on Saturday (4/7/2026), Marwan emphasized the importance of continuous health assistance. According to him, the one-year period is an ideal timeframe for the relevant authorities to monitor, care for, and guide the pilgrims to meet the required health standards.
This proactive step was initiated to prevent cases where prospective pilgrims are declared medically unfit just as the departure period approaches. Marwan argued that sudden notifications often trigger deep disappointment and a sense of injustice among the pilgrims.
With a one-year preparation period, it is hoped that prospective pilgrims will have a broader opportunity to improve their health conditions. If, after a year of intensive care, a pilgrim's health condition still does not meet the standards, then the result will be more easily accepted by the concerned party as an unavoidable reality.
