New Delhi, Jan. 27 -- The ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) has written to states and Union territories (UTs), seeking names of serving Muslim male and female doctors as well as paramedics to accompany Indian Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

These medical professionals for Hajj medical deputation will help provide healthcare services in Saudi Arabia at facilities manned by Indian doctors.

Every year, thousands of Indian Muslims go on the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia. This year, India has got a quota of 175,025 Hajj pilgrims as per a bilateral agreement signed in January with Saudi Arabia.

The ministry has requested the states/UTs to appoint a nodal officer to send nominations of deputationists to the directorate ge...