Consequences of Poverty in Healthcare; 150 Emergency Room Escapes Recorded Monthly at a Tabriz Hospital

Poverty in Iran is manifesting increasingly severe consequences every day. In the latest instance, Sajad Ahmadi, the Deputy for Management Development and Resources at the Imam Reza Educational and Treatment Center in Tabriz, stated that an average of 150 cases of escape from the emergency room are recorded monthly at this hospital. The Statistical Center of the Islamic Republic reported in October of this year that the share of healthcare expenses in the urban household expenditure basket last year was about 1.9%, ranking third after housing and fuel costs, and food and tobacco expenses. The website 'Khabar Online' also emphasized in a report that high recovery and treatment costs can be witnessed by visiting hospitals and treatment centers. This news site noted that in recent years, with the increase in inflation rates in Iran, healthcare costs have also risen to the extent that many families cannot afford them. Published statistics indicate that class disparities in physical health provision have reached their highest levels. Some analysts believe that the wealthy spend more money to maintain their health while the low-income spend less due to inflation, recession, production decline, and ongoing sanctions. Officials from the Ministry of Health of the Islamic Republic had repeatedly promised in the summer of 2022 that by implementing the so-called 'Darouyar' plan, the shortage of medicines would be reduced to a 'minimum' within two to three months, and drug prices would move towards 'realism.' This promise was not fulfilled, and in addition to the increase in prices of many medicines, some items became scarce or even unavailable. Increasing livelihood problems affect a wide range of the Iranian population, and the rise in suicides due to poverty continues. Healthcare staff are still exposed to violence; a nurse in Yasuj was 'beaten,' and there was a knife attack on a Yasuj nurse, along with a protest gathering by nurses in the courtyard of the Medical Sciences University. Air pollution has intensified in five major cities in Iran; an environmental expert stated that the health of the people is not a concern for the government. The livelihood crisis has reached a dangerous stage; escaping poverty through suicide is becoming a reality. Protests by telecommunications retirees have occurred in at least 13 provinces: 'We have seen no justice, we will not vote for the parliament.'