Warning from the Iranian Psychiatric Association to Raisi: Collapse of the Health System Due to Resident Suicide Crisis

The Iranian Scientific Psychiatric Association has warned Ibrahim Raisi in a letter about the high suicide rates among residents, stating that the continuation of this trend could lead to the "collapse of the country's health system." The letter, published by the newspaper "Ham-Mihan," emphasizes the need to form a committee of specialists with the "necessary authority" to intervene immediately and prevent this from becoming a broader crisis. The letter also mentions that "the prevalence of suicides among young doctors and medical assistants is several times higher than that of the general population." The association explains that "multiple factors contribute to this issue, many of which relate to socio-economic and occupational conditions." The authors of the letter have suggested that to prevent the collapse of the health system, attention should be paid to the job security, economic stability, and professional status of young doctors. It is stressed that "any intervention in this area must be designed and implemented with a comprehensive perspective." The Iranian Scientific Psychiatric Association has reiterated its humanitarian duty to request the formation of a committee with the necessary expertise and authority for immediate intervention in this issue and to prevent it from escalating into a broader crisis. They compassionately remind that the situation of young doctors and assistants requires serious and immediate actions. Previously, the association had sent two letters to the Minister of Health regarding the issue of young doctors' suicides. Mahmoud Fazel, the head of the Supreme Council of the Medical System Organization, also expressed concern about this issue on December 25, stating, "We are facing the phenomenon of resident suicides. Therefore, a cross-sectoral working group has been formed to examine the status and problems of residents." The Iranian Scientific Psychiatry Association had warned about this issue for the second time in a letter to Bahram Einollahi, the Minister of Health in Ibrahim Raisi's government, in December of this year. The head of the Supreme Medical System Council also emphasized on December 30 that "the rights of residents in medical centers are being violated, and for this reason, the suicide rate in the medical community is high." Mahmoud Fazel stated that with this trend, the future of medicine in Iran is declining, noting that "the suicide rate in the medical community is about 10 times higher than that of other individuals in society." Healthcare workers in Iran face various pressures, including economic strain and work pressure due to staff shortages. Protests held by this group to assert their legal rights and reform some incorrect practices, as well as improve economic conditions, have not yet yielded results. Dr. Sahar Matlabi, a health researcher, stated: "The migration of healthcare staff endangers community health and creates crises." Dr. Sahar Matlabi added that healthcare staff feel they are not financially secure and do not have personal safety. Hospitals will be devoid of "emergency medicine" in the coming years. The online sale of medicines has led to the formation of a "virtual Nasir Khusraw." The closure of Niloufar Aghaei's clinic, an eye injury victim from last year's protests, was also mentioned. The head of the Iranian Medical System Organization warned that increasing medical capacity without infrastructure is "treason." The head of the Nursing Organization stated that 10,000 of the "finest nurses" have migrated. There has been a tenfold increase in the migration of Iran's healthcare staff over five years, described as a "foreshock" of a devastating earthquake.