An Iranian news agency reported that 'six-month suspension from service' orders have been issued for nurses protesting their working conditions. The ILNA news agency, affiliated with the Workers' House, quoted the Secretary-General of the Nurses' House, Mohammad Sharifi-Moghadam, stating: 'A six-month suspension comes at a time when we are facing a shortage of nurses.' He also mentioned the mandatory overtime for nurses, emphasizing that those who refuse overtime will be referred to the disciplinary board. Amid reports from union officials indicating that Iran is experiencing a 'nurse shortage,' the head of the Iranian Nursing Organization recently announced that 'over ten thousand' nurses have 'migrated.' According to the Mehr news agency, Mohammad Mirzabigi, the head of the Nursing Organization, stated that more than 10,000 of Iran's 'finest nurses' have left their jobs and migrated abroad. He noted that 'some gentlemen' have locked the nursing sector's door at the Ministry of Health for two years, hoping to uproot the entire organization and council in the upcoming elections. Healthcare workers in Iran face numerous challenges, including unclear fixed-term contracts, delays in salary and benefits payments, and disproportionate service tariffs. Additionally, members of this profession encounter security and health challenges, such as assaults by patients' companions or death from exposure to contagious diseases during their work, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. On December 9, following a week after a nurse was stabbed in the Jaleh Yasouj Hospital, media reported repeated violence against healthcare staff, including another nurse being assaulted. The ISNA news agency reported that two companions of a patient clashed with the emergency triage staff, injuring a nurse in the eye. Meanwhile, the migration of healthcare staff has entered a new phase, with Sharifi-Moghadam stating that annually 'more than 3,000' from this healthcare sector migrate, leading to patients 'losing their lives' due to the nurse shortage. Zahra Benayi, a former neonatal nurse in Iran, told Voice of America about the issues in this field: 'Nurses in Iran are under pressure and facing shortages in every aspect.' Nurses and healthcare workers have repeatedly held protests in various cities across Iran in recent years regarding their job conditions and associated problems. The Persian section of Voice of America has covered the challenges faced by healthcare staff, especially nurses, and the issues that have intensified the migration crisis in this sector.
A Union Official: Protesting Nurses in Iran Have Received 'Six-Month Suspension from Service' Orders
Nurses in Iran are facing severe repercussions for protesting their working conditions, including six-month suspensions. The country is experiencing a significant nurse shortage, with over ten thousand nurses reported to have migrated. This situation highlights the ongoing challenges within Iran's healthcare system and the urgent need for reform.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Nurses in Iran have received six-month suspensions for protesting their working conditions amid a significant shortage of healthcare professionals. This comes as over ten thousand nurses have reportedly migrated abroad due to poor working conditions.
- Iran is experiencing a severe nurse shortage, with over 10,000 nurses having migrated.
- Nurses face mandatory overtime and disciplinary actions for refusing to comply.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran's healthcare sector has been under strain due to economic sanctions, mismanagement, and the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among healthcare workers.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 90%