Algeria has mandated strict medical data protection for contractors involved in the 2027 Hajj season, with severe penalties for breaches of confidentiality. The terms of service for the 2027 Hajj season specifically mandate the contractor to maintain the confidentiality of medical information and not use pilgrims' health data outside the official mission. The new terms of service require contractors to ensure the confidentiality of pilgrims' medical information, prohibiting its use outside the official mission. Financial penalties will be imposed for any violations of these contractual obligations concerning medical data. The Office of Algerian Pilgrims' Affairs reserves the right to terminate contracts, pursue legal action, and claim compensation for repeated breaches. The contractor bears full responsibility for providing health services and safeguarding pilgrims' medical data, ensuring its use remains exclusively within the scope of the Hajj mission.
Operational Mandates and Data Handling
Continuous coordination with the Algerian medical mission and Saudi health authorities is a requirement for contractors. The contractor must monitor health cases among Algerian pilgrims and report any serious or contagious conditions. This continuous monitoring and reporting are key for managing public health during the pilgrimage. Providing one or more liaison officers for the Algerian medical mission 24 hours a day in Mecca and Medina is also mandated, ensuring constant communication and immediate response capabilities.
The terms specify that representatives must be appointed within each public or private hospital treating Algerian pilgrims. These representatives will serve as key contacts for the Algerian medical mission. Contractors are required to prepare daily reports and send them electronically to the Algerian medical mission, providing a full overview of pilgrim health status. Immediate reporting of serious or contagious cases is mandatory to facilitate rapid intervention and prevent outbreaks. The Algerian delegation must be informed in a timely manner of all administrative, organizational, and medical updates received from Saudi health authorities.
Health service coverage extends to all pilgrim accommodation sites and the holy sites, ensuring full care throughout the pilgrimage journey. Contractors must coordinate with authorities before the arrival of the first pilgrim group to obtain necessary licenses for health facilities in hotels located in Mecca and Medina. This proactive approach ensures all facilities are legally compliant and operational from the outset. Team members involved in the Hajj mission will be granted access to the 'CAREWARE' system before their arrival, a critical step for digital health management. Prior training on using digital systems, including 'CAREWARE', is a mandatory prerequisite for all personnel, ensuring proficiency in electronic health record management. Additionally, an information system for electronic health record management must be provided by the contractor, supporting efficient data handling and patient care.
Health Infrastructure and Staffing
For the 2027 Hajj season, Algeria has specified the health infrastructure requirements for contractors. Seven health facilities are designated in Mecca, comprising one main center and six sub-units, strategically located to serve pilgrims. In Medina, three health facilities are designated, consisting of one main center and two sub-units. This brings the total number of health facilities to ten, ensuring broad coverage for Algerian pilgrims.
Contractors must ensure all medical staff are registered in the Saudi health system to obtain practice licenses, a fundamental requirement for legal operation within the Kingdom. A multidisciplinary team must be provided, including general practitioners, specialists, pharmacists, nurses, and paramedics, to address a wide range of medical needs. A chief medical officer is required to coordinate with the Algerian medical mission, providing leadership and clinical oversight. Alongside this, a chief administrative officer must be appointed to manage logistical and operational aspects effectively.
Ambulance and medical transport services are also a contractor responsibility, ensuring timely patient transfers and emergency responses. Additionally, basic equipment, ranging from blood pressure and sugar monitors to resuscitation equipment, must be supplied to equip all health facilities adequately. Regarding medical waste (DASRI), disposal for main centers in Mecca and Medina is mandated three times a week, adhering to strict hygiene standards. Sub-units require medical waste (DASRI) disposal once a week. The technical aspect of these provisions accounts for 50 allocated points in the contractor evaluation, noting their importance.
Contractual Penalties and Violations
Official notification of violations will be sent to the competent Saudi authorities, showing the seriousness with which breaches are treated. The contractor will bear all additional costs and expenses resulting from any breaches of contract. A financial fine can be imposed for each pilgrim affected by non-compliance with the agreed terms. The amount of this fine will be determined by the difference between the contracted service and the actual service provided, ensuring penalties are commensurate with service deficiencies. In cases of repeated violations, the Office of Algerian Pilgrims' Affairs reserves the right to immediately terminate the contract, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy for persistent non-compliance.
Participation in providing health services for the Hajj is limited to institutions, medical complexes, or health bodies accredited by the Saudi Ministry of Health, ensuring a high standard of medical provision. A minimum of three years of experience in group medicine or health supervision of large gatherings is required for all applicants, demonstrating proven capability in managing complex health scenarios. Proof of participation in previous Hajj seasons, Umrah, or other major international events must also be submitted, verifying practical experience. Contractors are required to provide a certificate of good performance from their involvement in previous Hajj seasons, attesting to their reliability and quality of service.
In the evaluation process for contractors, a total of 100 points are allocated for bid evaluation, split equally between technical and financial offers. 50 points are allocated for the financial aspect of the proposal. The remaining 50 points are allocated for the technical aspect of the proposal. Medical equipment and the means of provision are evaluated with up to 20 points, reflecting the importance of strong infrastructure. The number and efficiency of health staff are evaluated with up to 15 points, recognizing the critical role of human resources. The proposed health supervision plan is evaluated with 2.5 points, while the coordination methodology is also evaluated with 2.5 points. Professional experience is evaluated with up to 10 points within the assessment criteria. Specifically, professional experience ranging from two to five years receives 4 points. Those with professional experience of six to nine years receive 6 points, and contractors demonstrating professional experience exceeding 10 years are awarded the maximum 10 points.
