The Ministry of Health announced Monday that the overall health and well-being of pilgrims is “reassuring,” due to strict health precautions to prevent the spread of pandemic diseases. Around 60,000 pilgrims visited medical centers in Makkah between Nov. 18 and 21. The number of out-patient visitors, however, decreased by 55 percent compared to 2008. The number visiting emergency rooms declined by 19.6 percent compared to last year while the number of patients admitted to hospital decreased by 15.72 percent. Meanwhile, hospitalized patients in Madina willing to perform the Haj rituals this year will be transferred to Makkah Tuesday from the Miqat Hospital in Madina, a health official said. The 25 patients will be able to perform Haj with the assistance of a medical team, said Hani Faid, director of the emergency room and ambulance service at the Madina Health Department. Each pilgrim will be taken by a fully-equipped ambulance, he said. Police and Road Security officers will closely monitor the ambulance trip from Madina to Makkah, he added.
