Three-minute read
In the sweltering summer of 2024, a wave of unprecedented protests by nurses and medical professionals has swept across Iran, bringing to light the dire working conditions and mounting frustrations within the country’s healthcare system. From Mashhad to Shiraz, Bushehr to Yasuj, these protests have become a powerful cry for help from those who have long been the unsung heroes in Iran’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The nurses, who once stood at the frontline of the global health crisis, are now fighting for their own survival in a system that has seemingly turned a blind eye to their plight.
The ongoing protests, now entering their second week, reflect a deep and widespread discontent among Iran’s nursing community. In Mashhad alone, nurses from major hospitals such as Imam Reza, Akbar, and Hasheminejad have halted their work, demanding justice in the face of what they describe as unbearable working conditions. “We are expected to care for others, but who will care for us?” reads one of the placards held by protesting nurses—a stark reminder of the personal toll this profession has exacted on them.
At the heart of the protests are demands for the fair implementation of the Tariff Plan for Nursing Services, a law passed in 2006 that has yet to be justly enforced.
The discontent has been brewing for some time, but the tipping point came with the government’s failure to recognize and reward the extraordinary sacrifices made by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being hailed as heroes, many nurses were left with little more than fatigue, trauma, and a paycheck that barely covered their living expenses. “We fought against COVID with no support, and now we have to fight for our rights,” one nurse in Shiraz lamented, underscoring the profound sense of betrayal felt by many in the profession.
#Iran News:
Mass Protests by #Nurses Erupt Across Iran on August 17, 2024https://t.co/PatYVH07lN— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) August 17, 2024
The roots of the current crisis can be traced back to longstanding structural issues within Iran’s healthcare system, which has consistently marginalized the nursing profession. While the system has often been described as “doctor-centered,” even physicians are increasingly facing severe livelihood challenges with suicide and migration rates of Iranian physicians at an all-time high.
“We are part of a chain, but one link is always being overlooked,” said a nurse from Mashhad, highlighting the interconnected nature of healthcare where neglecting one part inevitably leads to systemic failures.
“We work night shifts for a pittance,” a nurse explained. “Imagine working seven hours overnight for just 140,000 tomans (approximately $2,40) in overtime pay. It doesn’t even cover the cost of transportation.”
The toll on the personal lives of these nurses is profound. Many have faced the impossible choice between staying in a profession they love and seeking better opportunities abroad. The exodus of healthcare professionals has reached alarming levels, with reports indicating that more nurses are emigrating than the Ministry of Health can hire. “Those who can, leave,” Sharifi-Moghaddam, Secretary-General of Iran’s Nurses’ Home, says, “and those who stay, either switch to less demanding office jobs or simply quit, finding it less costly to stay home than to continue in a job that offers so little in return.”
The emotional and psychological strain has also led to tragic outcomes. In recent months, there have been reports of suicides among nurses in Tehran, Kermanshah, and other cities, underscoring the extreme pressure and hopelessness that many feel. “We are breaking under the weight of it all,” admitted a nurse, capturing the desperation that pervades the profession.
Iranian #Nurses Protest Nationwide for Better Wages and Working Conditions #Iran #IranProtests https://t.co/BDaGMohkyZ
— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) August 19, 2024
The protests have highlighted the personal hardships nurses face and exposed a broader systemic failure. The refusal to implement the Tariff Plan for Nursing Services fairly is symbolic of the government’s disregard for the welfare of its medical professionals. Instead of addressing the root causes of discontent, the government has responded with threats, intimidation, and even disciplinary actions against protesting nurses. “Rather than solving the problem, they try to silence us,” said a nurse from Tehran, reflecting the frustration that has fueled the ongoing strikes.
The consequences of this neglect are already evident. The shortage of nurses has become critical, with many hospitals operating with skeleton crews, leading to deteriorating patient care. “The system is collapsing,” warns Sharifi-Moghaddam. “If the government doesn’t act soon, there will be no one left to care for the sick.”
However, the main roots of the current crisis lie in the deep-seated structural issues within Iran’s healthcare system, which has long marginalized the nursing profession. While both doctors and nurses face severe livelihood challenges, nurses suffer the most from wage disparities and lack of recognition. The corrupt ruling system prioritizes its own survival through nuclear ambitions and regional warmongering, leaving little hope for an enduring solution. The true resolution of Iran’s healthcare crisis, as in every other aspect of this country, hinges on a fundamental change in the regime.
