Inam Danish Khan - Army College of Medical Sciences and Base Hospital, New Delhi, India
Shazia Khan - INHS Kalyani, Vishakhapatnam, India
Majid Ali Khan - Command Hospital (EC), Kolkata, India
Muhammad Shaikhoo Mustafa - Public Health Consultant, Chennai, India
MS Kidwai - Director Medical Services, New Delhi, India
Shahbaz Ali Khan - Army College of Medical Sciences and Base Hospital, New Delhi, India
Bushra Asima - Army Hospital Research and Referral, New Delhi, India

Introduction: Hajj is an annual mass gathering of over ۳.۵ million pilgrims congregating from ۲۰۰ countries in the desert climate of Saudi Arabia. Mass gathering medicine at Hajj is challenged by issues of healthcare accessibility, infection control, on-site treatment, referral, evacuation, and response to disasters and public health emergencies. The Indian Medical Mission at Hajj ۲۰۱۶ established, operated, and coordinated a strategic network of mass gathering medical operations, the proceeds of which are discussed herein. Methods: The mission was designed to provide holistic health security through health intelligence for pre-existing chronic diseases, epidemic intelligence for endemic and exotic diseases, public-health and disaster-health preparedness, and tiered healthcare through mobile medical task forces, static clinics, tent clinics, secondary care hospitals, and evacuation capabilities. Results: Primary care, secondary care, and tertiary care treated ۳۷۴ ۴۷۵, ۹۳۰, and ۵۲۳ patients, respectively. Patients exhibited limited compliance with pre-instituted treatments and precautionary protocols. Respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, cardiorespiratory, trauma, and heat illnesses were seen. Epidemic intelligence revealed an outbreak of food poisoning. Respiratory infections were reported by ۹۰% of the healthcare personnel. Surge capacity was overwhelmed with patient throughput and ambulance transfers. Crude unadjusted mortality was ۱۱.۹۹/۱۰ ۰۰۰. Conclusion: The Indian Medical Mission at Hajj ۲۰۱۶ yielded solutions to the challenges faced during the ۲۰۱۶ Hajj pilgrimage. The mission posture of the Indian Medical Mission in Hajj presents a modus operandi for handling crisis scenarios in mass gathering. The situational analysis of the Hajj health mission calls for dynamic interventions in preparedness, clientele, and health systems.

Hajj, Mass Gathering Medicine, Travel Medicine, Public Health Preparedness, Disaster Health Preparedness, Medical Mission