MAKKAH — This Haj season, Tabung Haji has enhanced healthcare for Malaysian pilgrims by introducing digital tablets under the Ziarah Rahmah programme. This marks a major step forward, allowing healthcare visits at each maktab (residential facility) to be faster and more efficient.

Dr Abdullah Husam A Shukor, Operations Coordinator at Tabung Haji’s Public Health Unit, explained that the tablets, equipped with SIM cards and internet access, enable healthcare staff to access pilgrims' health data in real time. This technology replaces the previous manual record-keeping method, streamlining access to health histories, medications, and treatment needs.

The system categorizes pilgrims into green (healthy), yellow (at risk), and red (chronic illness), enabling quick prioritization and early intervention. In addition to providing health education on heat-related conditions, the programme also helps identify unreported illnesses and assists with medication needs, offering referrals to local clinics when necessary.