Doubling of Medical Migration; Medical Council: Iran Exports Doctors to Five Continents

The spokesperson for the Medical Council states that the migration of the medical community has doubled compared to the years before the COVID-19 pandemic, and Iran is now exporting doctors to all five continents. Reza Lari-Pour, in an interview with the Jamaran website, emphasized that there is a global need for medical professionals, and since the profession is expensive and training is costly, developed countries source part of their healthcare workforce from other countries. Iranian healthcare workers are recognized for their quality and have a special acceptance worldwide. He identified the main reason for doctors migrating abroad as economic conditions and livelihood issues, noting that less than one percent of the medical community earns billions. The average income of the medical community is below 20 million tomans, with 100,000 out of 150,000 medical professionals earning between 11 to 15 million tomans, placing them below the poverty line. The head of the Medical Council had previously stated that the shortage of doctors is not an exaggeration, and currently, there are no pediatric heart surgeons in the country. According to the Iran Watch website, last year, 160 cardiologists emigrated from Iran, and 30,000 healthcare staff from medical schools requested certificates of good conduct, primarily heading to Oman. Over the past four years, 16,000 general practitioners have left Iran. In the face of a doctor shortage crisis, President Ebrahim Raisi told emigrated doctors and specialists on August 31 that there are opportunities for 'dignified jobs' for them, and migration can be reversed. Hassan Naib-Hashem remarked that many doctors in prison are more committed to prison guards than to the Hippocratic Oath. A widespread wave of migration among Iranian doctors and healthcare staff was discussed with Saeed Peyvandi. The Doctor's Day ceremony in Iran was held in the absence of doctors killed during protests. The head of the Iranian Scientific Genetics Association stated that the ban on screening kits is pushing tests underground. Eighty percent of the top scorers in the university entrance exam have left Iran, and this year's top students are also seeking to emigrate. The doctor shortage crisis in Iran continues, with Raisi assuring emigrated doctors that there are opportunities for 'dignified jobs.'