Oman shows off digital health card pilot from 2024 Hajj season at WHO meeting

Oman presented its Digital Hajj Health Card experience at a major World Health Organization event in Geneva, highlighting what officials call one of the world's largest tests of digital health records during mass movement of people.

The country worked with Indonesia and Malaysia during the 2024 Hajj season to pilot the digital health cards. More than 250,000 pilgrims carried secure health records that traveled with them and helped healthcare providers deliver services. The pilot continued into 2025, bringing the total number of users to over half a million.

How does it work?

The digital health card system builds on Oman's existing health technology infrastructure:

• The "Al Shifa" system connects more than 85% of health institutions across Oman
• A Health Command and Control Center manages services during large events and gatherings
• National digital infrastructure supports the secure transfer of health data
• Pilgrims can access their verified health records instantly when seeking medical care

Dr. Hilal Ali Al Sabti, Oman's Minister of Health, said the system enables "rapid and accurate medical care in the most critical moments" by giving healthcare providers immediate access to patient history and medical information.

Why does it matter?

The Hajj pilot represents a major test case for portable digital health records during mass mobility events. Traditional paper-based systems often fail when millions of people travel internationally and need medical care in unfamiliar healthcare systems.

The success of the pilot has broader implications beyond religious pilgrimages:

• International travel could become easier with verified health records
• Emergency medical care improves when doctors have instant access to patient history
• Global health coordination gets stronger with standardized digital systems
• Future pandemics might be managed better with interoperable health data

Oman and the WHO are now exploring a "Global Digital Health Wallet" that would let people securely access vaccination certificates and medical summaries anywhere in the world through unified standards.

The context

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed major weaknesses in cross-border health coordination. Countries struggled to verify vaccination status, share patient data, and coordinate responses because health systems operated in isolation with incompatible formats.

The Hajj provides a perfect testing ground for digital health solutions. Each year, over two million Muslims from around the world travel to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage, creating massive logistical challenges for healthcare providers who must treat patients with no access to their medical history.

Oman's pilot fits into the country's Vision 2040 plan, which aims to build a health system supported by modern technology and connected globally. The government is pushing for rapid growth in health technology through 2030, with digital transformation as a key priority.

The WHO meeting in Geneva focused on moving from "fragmented and isolated health systems" to comprehensive digital wallets based on international standards. This would give patients trusted health records that work anywhere, and help doctors make better decisions regardless of location.