Research Report: Statistics Confirm Increasing Trend of Doctors' Immigration from Iran

While the immigration of healthcare personnel from Iran has repeatedly made headlines in recent months, the 'Open Data Platform of Iran' has published a report examining some existing statistics that confirm the increase in doctors' immigration. On Tuesday, October 10, the Open Data Platform of Iran released a report on the rising trend of doctors' immigration from Iran. According to statistics provided by the Farhikhtegan newspaper, 2,300 specialist doctors and 4,200 general practitioners have left Iran this year, which is 30% higher than the average annual entry of doctors into the job market in Iran. Statistics from the Medical Council indicate that the average annual entry of doctors into the job market from 2013 to 2021 was less than 5,000 doctors. These statistics also show that during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the number of employed doctors in medical universities decreased by nearly 1,000. According to the same report, the Iranian Migration Observatory has collected data using credible international sources, indicating that the population of Iranian doctors in developed countries has increased. The number of trained doctors from Iran in OECD member countries has risen from about 4,000 to over 10,000. This research center emphasized that considering the lengthy process of obtaining medical practice licenses by immigrant Iranian doctors in destination countries, 'it can be confidently stated that the actual migration figures for doctors are much higher.' The Open Data Platform of Iran, citing surveys from the 'Iran Migration Observatory' conducted in the summer of 2022, noted that the results of this survey indicate a 'high' and 'very high' desire for immigration among doctors and nurses. From this demographic, 24% have decided to immigrate, and 7.5% have actually taken steps to do so. This research center emphasized that since this survey was conducted before the death of Mahsa Amini, it can be expected that following the nationwide protests in 2022, the desire to immigrate among various sectors, including doctors, has increased. A doctor and former member of parliament stated that '10,000 medical personnel' emigrate from Iran annually. The endless hardships of nurses; 130 hours of mandatory overtime for less than 2 million tomans. An aide to Ali Khamenei in military affairs deemed the immigration of 'specialist doctors' as 'unacceptable.' The human resource crisis in Iran has reached managers.