"The patients are allowed to participate in the medical Haj caravan only after their doctors certify that they are fit to visit the Haj sites," Director of the Health Department in Makkah Dr. Khaled Zafar told Arab News on Monday.

The caravan, supplied with all medicines and equipment and other requirements for patients, is supervised by Dr. Muhammad Justania.

"In fact, there are three caravans consisting of 37 buses. One is for the inpatients in four hospitals in Mina. The second takes care of the patients of King Faisal Hospital, Al-Noor Specialist Hospital and Ajyad General Hospital in Makkah. The third caravan is for inpatients of Al-Zahir Hospital, Hira General Hospital and Maternity & Children's Hospital," Zafar said.

He said 48 patients from Madinah and four from Jeddah were shifted to Mina hospitals five days ago;.

Zafar also gave a breakdown of patients sent from each hospital: King Faisal 51, Al-Noor Specialist 69, King Abdullah Medical City 26, King Abdul Aziz 110, Hira General 10, Maternity & Children's 4, Mina Emergency 16, Mina Bridge 11, Mina Al-Wadi 58 and Mina New Street 14. They were accompanied by 12 ambulances and three security patrol cars. There were 93 doctors, 208 nurses, 50 assistants and 29 laborers to attend to the sick pilgrims.