Iranian Medical Clinics Closed in Medina: Official

IQNA – Iranian medical clinics have been closed in Medina, an official said, noting that Iranian pilgrims, like pilgrims from other countries, must use Saudi clinics and hospitals.

Speaking to IQNA, Head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Medical Center Seyed Ali Marashi explained the conditions for providing medical services to Iran’s Umrah pilgrims in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

“Due to the regulations imposed by the Saudi government in Medina, we currently do not have a clinic or office in Medina to examine patients, and our offices are closed,” he stated.

He pointed out that these Saudi regulations had been in place in previous years, but were enforced more severely this year, and Iranian clinics in hotels where Iranian pilgrims are staying have been closed.

“We receive the medical services needed by Iranian pilgrims from Saudi clinics around the (Prophet’s Mosque) and around the hotels where pilgrims are staying.”

Regarding the provision of medical services in Mecca, Marashi said, “We have four eight-hour clinics in Mecca that are busy providing services, and there is a doctor present in the hotels of Iranian pilgrims. If inpatient services are needed, these services are also received from Saudi hospitals in Mecca.”

In response to the question of whether there is an additional fee for receiving services from Saudi clinics and hospitals, he said, “No; the Hajj and Umrah contract states that inpatient services in Saudi Arabia are covered by insurance and the Saudi government is obligated to provide inpatient services to Umrah pilgrims. In the city of Mecca, Iranian doctors examine pilgrims and, if necessary, patients are referred to Saudi hospitals. In Medina, pilgrims also visit Saudi clinics, but they do not pay for treatment, and these services are free for pilgrims from all countries.”

As for the health status of Iranian Umrah pilgrims, he said since the Umrah journey is short, pilgrims are less likely to get sick. “Of course, in the Umrah journey, (unlike Hajj), examinations are not performed before departure, and any applicant of any age and illness can take journey, and it is natural for older people to suffer from respiratory, physical, respiratory, muscular problems, and colds.

“We have not encountered any specific problems or illnesses during this year’s Umrah so far. For pilgrims who are going to perform Umrah, we have posted instructions on the site that include a self-declaration in which the Umrah pilgrim specifies what illnesses they have and what medications they are using, so that in the event of a problem, the doctors at the medical center have access to their medical history.”

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