Admissions to Cardiology, Pediatrics, Anesthesia, and Emergency Medicine Programs Have Reached Zero

The head of the Health and Treatment Commission of the Parliament has announced that there have been no applicants for fields such as Emergency Medicine, Anesthesia, Cardiac Surgery, and Pediatric Surgery in the past two years. Analysts believe this indicates a 'zero' entry into these fields, and given the widespread emigration of doctors, especially specialists in cardiology and pediatrics, Iran will face a significant crisis in the near future. According to the website Khabar Online, Hossein Ali Shahriari stated that the Ministry of Health has sent letters to provinces indicating that if there are any applicants for these fields, an internal exam will be held to recruit them into the system. Shahriari noted that the lack of applicants has led to the cancellation of the residency exam for some provinces. Last June, Shahriari also mentioned that over the past two years, 10,000 medical professionals have emigrated from the country, and many provinces are facing severe shortages of doctors, particularly surgeons, which 'could lead to major problems for the country in the coming years.' The newspaper Salamat News reported in March 2023 that in recent years, the desire to pursue specialized and subspecialized training in various medical fields has significantly decreased. The newspaper emphasized that since 2017, the risk of a shortage of specialists in certain medical fields such as Anesthesia, Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases, Cardiac Surgery, and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery has sharply increased. Salamat News warned about the consequences of this situation, stating that the number of pediatric cardiac surgeons is currently insufficient, and waiting lists for children could lead to fatalities. The newspaper Hamshahri explained the reasons for the current situation, stating that 'the wave of emigration of the medical community from the country continues' and that 'doctors prefer to leave due to financial difficulties and the inability to pay for office rent, housing, and other issues.' It emphasized that many doctors are leaving Iran for Gulf countries to secure a better life and welfare for themselves and their families. The migration trend among elites and ordinary people has reached such a level that the head of the Strategic Studies Center of the Presidency stated on January 7, 2024, that people are emigrating due to a lack of a clear vision for the future. In this context, Iranian media reported in February 2024 a 200% increase in requests from doctors for documents and administrative letters needed for emigration. A widespread wave of emigration is occurring among pilots, athletes, and healthcare personnel; Iranian specialists are leaving. The protests of nurses against mandatory overtime, low wages, and harsh working conditions continue: 'Our patience has run out.' The strike of nurses in dozens of public hospitals continues despite ongoing security pressures. The former president of Tehran University of Medical Sciences stated that the wave of emigration of nurses to Germany has begun. A union official warned that a crisis of infectious disease specialists is on the way. Another report indicated a fivefold increase in 'chain suicides' in the medical community. Iraj Fazel, a former health minister, spoke of the 'decline of medicine' in Iran, stating that 'a group of ignorant individuals' have targeted 'reference' groups. Media reports have covered resignations, job changes, and the departure of nurses; a narrative of a downfall.