Reports from across Iran highlight a wave of protests by nurses on November 7, marked as “Nurses’ Day” in the country. Nurses in multiple cities, including Ardakan, Bushehr, Fasa, Zanjan, Mashhad, Shush, Yazd, Ahvaz, Shiraz, and Ilam, gathered to demand long-overdue wages, better working conditions, and respect for their profession. The protests underscore the ongoing crisis within Iran’s healthcare system, as thousands of medical staff face grueling work conditions with minimal compensation and delayed payments.
In Ardakan (Yazd Province, Central Iran), nurses at Ziaei Hospital staged a protest against unpaid wages and stagnant overtime rates. They voiced frustration over six-month delays in payments and inadequate compensation, stating that the situation has become “unbearable.”
In Yazd (Yazd Province, Central Iran), protests erupted, echoing the grievances of nurses from across the region. Nurses held signs reading “No more promises, our tables are empty” and “Nurses keep the system running; without us, it collapses.” They vowed not to work additional shifts until their demands are met.
November 7—Ardakan, central Iran
Nurses of Ziyayi hospital hold protest rally as the regime refrains from addressing their demands for better wages and working conditions.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/dA3XbDnMkS— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 7, 2024
In Ahvaz (Khuzestan Province, Southwest Iran), members of the local Nursing Organization expressed outrage over pay disparities and poor working conditions, noting that offers for Iranian nurses in countries like Oman can be as much as ten times higher. Nurses in Ahvaz also face inadequate benefits and a lack of job security, leading to frequent demonstrations outside government buildings.
In Ilam (Ilam Province, Western Iran), nurses joined the protests, calling out the authorities for failing to fulfill promises of better pay and benefits. They voiced anger at the disparity between official claims of support and the lack of tangible improvements in their working conditions.
In Shiraz (Fars Province, Southern Iran), nurses in several key hospitals, including Rajai Hospital, went on strike. Medical staff in Shiraz, including lab technicians and radiologists, refused to report to work in protest of low wages and a lack of resources, with some hospitals reduced to only a skeleton staff. In Fasa, another city in Fars, only senior supervisors remained on duty, as nurses at Shariati Hospital protested en masse.
November 7—Meybod, central Iran
Nurses and hospital staff rally to protest unpaid and low wages, unfair tariff rules, and poor working conditions.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/X0zGMJspLb— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 7, 2024
In Jahrom (Fars Province, Southern Iran), a video circulated showing nurses at Motahari Hospital discarding Nurses’ Day gift packs in protest, a symbolic rejection of what they see as government tokenism amidst serious financial struggles.
In Mashhad (Khorasan Razavi Province, Northeastern Iran), Zanjan (Zanjan Province, Northwestern Iran), Bushehr (Bushehr Province, Southern Iran), Shush (Khuzestan Province, Southwest Iran), Qom (Qom Province, Central Iran), and Kermanshah (Kermanshah Province, Western Iran), nurses staged similar protests, highlighting issues of pay disparity, compulsory overtime, and poor working conditions.
The Coordinating Council for Nursing Protests reported that security forces have suspended nurses participating in these demonstrations or involved in online activism. Mahmoud Amidi, a senior member of the Iranian Nurses’ House, stated that some suspended nurses are unlikely to return to work, condemning the suspensions as unlawful.
November 7—Urmia, northwest Iran
Nurses continue protests as authorities ignore their demands for better working conditions.
"Shout for your rights!" the nurses chant#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/KQ4hvYPzRk— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 7, 2024
The crisis in Iran’s healthcare workforce continues to deepen, with widespread shortages exacerbated by waves of migration and resignations. Iranian officials report a shortage of over 100,000 nurses, with the nation seeing an annual departure of over 500 healthcare professionals due to inadequate pay and high workloads. This shortage is crippling Iran’s medical facilities, particularly in smaller cities where many clinics have been forced to close.
According to Iran’s state-run Etemad newspaper, healthcare and other sectors, including municipal workers, teachers, retirees, and industrial laborers, have engaged in over 100 protest actions since 2021. The paper acknowledges that these protests reflect escalating economic and social distress, with workers across the country demanding fair wages, job security, and full insurance coverage.
Today’s widespread demonstrations mark a significant moment of national discontent, illustrating the struggles of countless workers, healthcare professionals, and pensioners under Iran’s deepening economic strain. The message from all sectors is clear: comprehensive change is needed to address the mounting socioeconomic pressures faced by Iranians.
