Two-minute read
Iran is grappling with a severe nursing crisis, marked by acute staff shortages, inadequate compensation, oppressive working conditions, and a growing wave of emigration. This multifaceted emergency is not only endangering the well-being of nurses but also threatening the integrity of the country’s entire healthcare system.
Despite repeated promises of reform, little has been done to address the deepening crisis. Nurses across the country report burnout, emotional distress, and in some tragic cases, suicide. Many are driven to leave the profession or emigrate in search of better conditions abroad. The result is a deteriorating system struggling to deliver adequate care to patients.
Intimidation and Violence Amid Demands for Reform
Mohammad Sharifi Moghadam, Secretary General of the Nurses’ House and head of the nurses’ secretariat, has spoken out about the hostile environment many nurses face when voicing their demands. “Some nurses are summoned and pressured merely for participating in union gatherings,” he said. “Those in power believe they can solve the problem through intimidation and threats, but the root cause is a conflict of interest held by a group that wields influence and authority.”
For 19 days, #Iran's nurses have courageously protested across the nation, demanding fair wages, better conditions, and respect. Their defiance against regime neglect is a powerful symbol of the fight for #justice and change. pic.twitter.com/gMZHch7THz
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) August 22, 2024
He highlighted daily instances of humiliation, threats, and even physical violence against nurses. In one alarming case, a nurse was beaten so severely that her nose was broken and her face injured—but the assailant, a member of the police force, faced no consequences.
Sharifi Moghadam stressed that nurses’ demands—such as fair wages, implementation of the nursing services tariff law, and improved working conditions—have gone unmet for years. “These are legitimate rights, not privileges. Silencing our voices with threats only deepens the crisis,” he said, urging regulatory bodies to investigate abuses and protect nurses from arbitrary treatment.
Shortage of Nurses Reaches Dangerous Levels
The numbers reveal the stark reality. Iran’s nurse-to-hospital-bed ratio stands at just 0.9—far below the global standard of 2.5. In some regions, the ratio falls to 0.6. This critical shortage has led to the closure of entire hospital wards and forced existing staff to work grueling overtime hours for meager pay.
#Iran News in Brief
Mohammad Sharifi Moghadam, the Secretary General of Iranian #Nursing Home, stated that problems such as low wages have forced most Iranian #nurses to seek immigration. https://t.co/LzjezqKXTn pic.twitter.com/CsjTRE6zed— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) April 25, 2023
Ahmad Nejatian, head of the Nursing System Organization, has repeatedly called for government intervention. Speaking on the “Health Watch” television program, he warned that the shortage has reached a dangerous tipping point. “Agencies like the Planning and Budget Organization and the Employment Affairs Organization are failing to cooperate,” he said. “Even nurses who served during the COVID-19 crisis haven’t been officially hired.”
Nejatian added that while around 12,000 nurses are trained annually, fewer than 10,000 have been hired over the past four years. Each year, about 1,800 nurses leave the public healthcare system, with many emigrating due to lack of opportunity and support at home.
Sharifi Moghadam echoed these concerns, warning that the nurse shortage is costing lives. “Over 3,000 nurses emigrate every year, yet the Ministry of Health does not even replace them with new hires,” he said.
#Iran News in Brief
The head of the regime's Nursing Organization announced that 10,000 nurses who were working in hospitals during the #COVID19 pandemic have been laid off. "This number of nurses are unemployed, young, and married," Mirzabeygi said.https://t.co/nlmazrBx8u pic.twitter.com/yMyPHBo4LL— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) September 15, 2022
A Call for Immediate Action
Healthcare professionals and analysts are united in their assessment: urgent measures must be taken to recruit and retain nursing staff. Without a robust nursing workforce, the quality of healthcare in Iran will continue to erode, placing patient safety and public health at grave risk.
The Nurses’ Secretariat has issued a clear message: the only sustainable solution lies in genuinely listening to the voices of nurses and taking meaningful action to address their demands. Until then, Iran’s healthcare system will remain dangerously understaffed—and increasingly vulnerable.