Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Health Ministry is collaborating with two hospital facilities owned by the Saudi Arabian government to guarantee health services for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims.

In a written statement released on Friday, the ministry said that the two hospitals are King Fahd Hospital and King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Hospital.

"We have coordinated with the management, and they are very welcoming and will work with Indonesia," said Zainal Mutaqin, head of the ministry's Medina Working Area (Daker).

Mutaqin, head of the Medina Daker's Health Section Thafsin Alfarizi, and a medical team visited the Saudi Arabian Hospital on Thursday, May 25.

The visit was undertaken to optimize health care for Indonesian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

He noted that the visit resulted in several collaborations, under which the Saudi Arabian hospitals were willing to accept patients from Indonesian Hajj pilgrims.

"This is because not all cases experienced by Indonesian Hajj pilgrims can be handled at the Indonesian Hajj Health Office (KKHI) in Medina," Mutaqin explained.

During that visit, the Medina Daker Team was received directly by the leaders of two Saudi Arabian hospitals.

He stated that the two hospitals are ready to receive patients from Indonesian Hajj pilgrims and are prepared to work with KKHI Medina to provide the best health services for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims.

King Fahad Hospital and King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Hospital are referral hospitals from KKHI Medina for patients from Indonesia in need of further treatment.

KKHI Medina is a health service facility prepared by the Indonesian government in Medina, with a capacity of 69 beds for emergency room (ER), intensive care unit (ICU), isolation, hospitalization, and psychiatry, he noted.

KKHI Medina is also equipped with laboratories, pharmacies, dental clinics, 11 ambulance units, as well as supporting facilities, such as ultrasound, EKG, and echocardiography, Mutaqin stated.

Moreover, Alfarizi said the collaboration between KKHI Medina and the Saudi Arabian Hospital was important to reduce the mortality rate of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims during the 2023 Hajj season.

"Hopefully, with good cooperation between the KKHI Medina and the Saudi Arabian Hospital, we will be able to reduce the death rate of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims," he remarked.

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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Resinta S
Editor: Anton Santoso
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