Hello and welcome to this episode of the NCRI Women’s Committee podcast. Today, we’ll be discussing the ongoing protests by Iran nurses, who are courageously standing up against harsh economic conditions, low wages, and difficult working conditions.
We’ll also touch on the broader healthcare crisis in Iran. We hope you find this episode both informative and engaging.
Can you give us an overview of the healthcare crisis in Iran? How bad is the situation for doctors and nurses?
The situation in Iran’s healthcare system is extremely troubling. Economic instability, low wages, and forced overtime are pushing both doctors and nurses to their limits. Nurses earn as little as $4 for an eight-hour shift, and many are considering alternative jobs, like driving for ride-hailing apps, to make ends meet. Doctors aren’t much better off, with consultation fees so low they barely cover basic living expenses. This has led to a mass exodus of healthcare professionals, leaving the system in a precarious state. In the past year alone, about 3,000 nurses have left the country.
The rate of emigration among Iranian nurses has surged dramatically. In 2021, an average of 100 to 150 nurses left the country each month. By 2024, that number had jumped to 300 per month. This exodus has led to mass resignations in hospitals nationwide, worsening an already dire situation.
What specific factors are driving Iran nurses and doctors to leave Iran?
The reasons are complex but mainly boil down to low wages and unbearable working conditions.
Nurses are often paid just 50 to 60 cents per hour for overtime, with some earning as little as 35 cents. This meager pay doesn’t even cover basic necessities. Additionally, there’s a severe shortage of nurses, with less than one nurse per hospital bed in some regions.
For doctors, the situation is similarly bleak. Medical consultation fees are so low that it’s difficult to maintain a decent standard of living. Many are choosing to emigrate in search of better opportunities, further draining the country’s healthcare system.
How severe is the nurse shortage in Iran?
The shortage of nurses is extremely severe, with some regions having less than half the required number per hospital bed. In Western countries, there are about 10 nurses per 1,000 people, while in Iran, the ratio is just 1.6 per 1,000. This shortage directly impacts patient care, with reports indicating that patients are dying due to the lack of staff.
The situation is also taking a toll on the mental health of healthcare workers. There are increasing reports of mass resignations and even suicides among nurses and doctors. Many entered the profession to help others, but overwhelming economic pressures and lack of respect for their work have driven them to despair. Depression and burnout are rampant, exacerbating the crisis and further depleting the healthcare workforce.
What’s happening with doctors’ salaries, and how is this affecting their decision to emigrate?
Doctors in Iran are facing incredibly low salaries. General practitioners earn around $6 per consultation, and specialists even less in some cases. These fees haven’t kept up with the country’s rampant inflation and often don’t cover basic expenses like office rent and staff salaries. As a result, about 25,000 doctors have either quit, left the country, or turned to other jobs, further straining an already overwhelmed healthcare system.
Can you give us an overview of the current protests by Iranian nurses?
The protests began on August 2, with nurses in cities like Shiraz and Karaj going on strike. The movement quickly spread to other cities, including Mashhad, where nurses gathered at Imam Reza Hospital to demand better wages and working conditions.
The key drivers are severe economic challenges, such as inflation and inadequate salaries, which have been longstanding issues in Iran. Despite the risks, these nurses are determined to continue their protests until their demands are met.
What are the specific demands and grievances of the nurses?
The nurses are primarily protesting the huge gap between their wages and the country’s rising inflation. They’ve been chanting slogans like “Inflation is in dollars, our salaries are in rials,” highlighting how quickly their earnings are losing value. Other grievances include the incomplete implementation of the tariff law, mandatory overtime, and the overall lack of support, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their demands are clear: fair wages, better working conditions, and an end to the intimidation they face from hospital management and security forces.
