Iran’s Nursing Crisis – The ongoing crisis in Iran’s healthcare system is pushing nurses to the brink. Low wages, excessive workloads, and poor working conditions have led to a mass exodus of healthcare professionals seeking better opportunities abroad.
A Growing Shortage of Nurses
The Iranian regime has kept nurses’ salaries below the poverty line while increasing their workload by reducing the number of hospital staff. As a result, many nurses are leaving their jobs, switching professions, or migrating to other countries.
According to official data from the Ministry of Health, approximately 1,800 nurses leave their jobs in Iran each year. A report in the state-run newspaper Vatan-e Emrooz (February 19, 2025) acknowledges the worsening situation, stating:
- Iran is training and exporting free nurses to the world!
- There are currently 250,000 nurses serving a population of 85 million. Meanwhile, 3,000 nurses apply for migration each year.
- For every 12,000 new nursing graduates annually, over 3,000 seek employment abroad.
Iran’s Status as a Nursing Talent Hub for Other Countries
Iranian nursing schools produce 16,000 graduates each year across 190 faculties, making the country a major center for nursing education in the region. However, instead of strengthening Iran’s healthcare system, this has turned Iran into one of the largest exporters of nurses.
Iran’s Nurse-to-Patient Ratio Falls Below Global Standards
Currently, Iran has only 1.6 nurses per 1,000 people—well below the World Health Organization’s (WHO) minimum standard of 3 per 1,000. This puts Iran’s healthcare system in a critical position.
The Root of the Problem: Poor Pay and Working Conditions
Mohammad Sharifi-Moghaddam, Secretary-General of the Iranian House of Nurses, highlighted the economic roots of the crisis:
- Before 1995, all healthcare staff received fixed salaries. However, after 1997, when financial incentives entered the healthcare system, the focus shifted from patient care to profit.
- Currently, a nurse in Iran earns a base salary of around 13 million tomans per month (approximately $144).
- By contrast, in the Persian Gulf countries, a nurse earns around $2,000 per month, in Europe about €3,500, and in the United States up to $6,000.
Unfair Compensation System
The way hospitals distribute compensation has also sparked outrage. According to Sharifi-Moghaddam:
- The official tariff for nursing services is 270,000 tomans per procedure, but after deductions for hospital fees and taxes, nurses receive only 2 to 3 million tomans per month in additional pay.
- Meanwhile, other hospital groups can receive between 100 to 200 million tomans per month.
The Hidden Factor: Workplace Pressures
Beyond low pay, Iranian nurses face additional workplace challenges, including enforcement of strict dress codes and other ideological restrictions imposed by the regime.
This has further fueled the migration wave, with some countries—including European nations and Persian Gulf states—now offering free language courses for Iranian nurses. These programs help them qualify for foreign jobs with strong contractual protections, ensuring they can work without the restrictions they face in Iran.
The Impact on Iran’s Healthcare System
With the ongoing shortage of nurses and continued migration, Iran’s healthcare system faces a looming crisis. If this trend continues, the country will struggle to maintain adequate healthcare services, further straining an already fragile system.
