The Health Ministry (Kemenkes), Home Ministry (Kemendagri) and Hajj and Umrah Ministry (Kemenhaj) signed a joint circular (SEB) on the Digitization of Hajj Pilgrim Services Based on Population Data in Jakarta, on Friday (9/10/2026). This interministerial partnership focuses on restructuring hajj services, reducing pilgrim mortality rates and closing loopholes for queue manipulation.
As part of these efforts, Kemenkes proposed two basic fee package options for medical check-ups (MCU) for prospective pilgrims. The lowest proposed fee option ranges from Rp800,000 to Rp1,000,000, while the highest ranges from Rp1,100,000 to Rp1,300,000.
Deputy Health Minister Dante S. Harbuwono explained that the fee recommendations were drawn up based on financing studies to address price disparities for medical check-ups between regional hospitals and ministry-administered vertical hospitals.
Read Also: Indonesia Urges Vigilance for Umrah Pilgrims amid Houthi attacks
“We indeed feel the impact when fee components and MCU packages vary. Regulations remain necessary to ensure the price gap is not too wide. If someone pays up to IDR 5,000,000 for an examination, that is unreasonable,” he said. “Perhaps there are additional supporting tests. However, if those supporting tests are used to determine a prospective pilgrim’s health status (istithaah) and cause issues, it will negatively impact the pilgrims.”
He added that stricter health criteria (istithaah) through standardized examinations proved effective in reducing the mortality rate of Indonesian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, down from 450 deaths in 2025 to 340 in 2026.
In addition, Kemenkes recommended a price range of Rp320,000 to Rp350,000 for mandatory meningitis vaccinations, as well as combination packages priced up to Rp850,000.
Alignment of Hajj Queue Data
Beyond health aspects, the joint circular emphasizes the crucial alignment of hajj queue data. Kemenhaj recorded that 416,147 out of 5.7 million pilgrims on the waiting list have data that does not match national population records. This mismatch creates opportunities for ticket scalping and illegal brokering, including the forging of death certificates to illicitly transfer quota slots valued up to Rp500 million, as well as age manipulation.
Hajj and Umrah Minister M. Irfan Yusuf emphasized that the data-matching initiative with the Population and Civil Registration Directorate General (Dukcapil) aims to safeguard pilgrims’ rights. “The principle we want to reinforce is one pilgrim, valid identity, protected rights and accountable service,” Irfan said.
Speaking at the same event, Home Minister Tito Karnavian affirmed the readiness of Dukcapil’s biometric system—which currently covers 98 percent of the population—to plug identity manipulation loopholes using facial recognition, fingerprints and iris scans. “Just by scanning a face, we can identify the person: their name, address, date of birth, occupation and even relatives. If someone attempts to use another person’s identity—for instance, someone supposed to wait another ten years who suddenly wants to depart next year—it will be very difficult to do so,” Tito said.
He added that the signing of the joint circular follows presidential directives to make hajj services better, more affordable and fully accountable. “This joint circular serves as a guideline and legal basis for regional officials to carry out reforms in their respective areas,” he noted.
Through regulatory synergy and biometric data integration, medical check-ups and candidate data matching are expected to proceed more systematically, while awaiting the issuance of a presidential decree on hajj costs. (est)
