Jakarta, June 3 -- The Health Ministry stated here on Tuesday that an integrated strategy is necessary to tackle the rising number of pilgrim deaths during the peak Hajj period in Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mina (Armuzna).

The strategy involves integrating the Saudi-based Indonesian Hajj Organizing Committee's (PPIH's) health unit with the Hajj Cluster Medical Teams (TKHK) that accompany each pilgrim group.

"The strategy is to unify the PPIH health unit, which will be divided into eight offices/posts. Specialist doctors will be on standby at each post," the ministry's Director General of Health Human Resources, Yuli Farianti, noted in a statement.

In the same statement, Head of the Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) Taruna Ikrar, who is also ...