In the ongoing protests by anesthesiologists in Iran against the reduction of anesthesia fees, a responsible official from the specialized association criticized 'discrimination and injustice' and emphasized that if this issue is not resolved, 'we may not anesthetize some patients.' According to Mehr News Agency, when the fees for 2017 were approved by the cabinet of Hassan Rouhani's first government, the fees for some specialties, including anesthesia, were reduced, leading to a wave of protests directed at the Ministry of Health. Fars News Agency reported that this fee reduction was '25 percent.' As Mehr News Agency noted, following the intensification of protests by anesthesiologists regarding the determination of medical fees for 2017, 'decisions were made in the Ministry of Health to prevent the continuation of these protests.' Among these was a meeting between the president and members of the Iranian Anesthesiology and Critical Care Association with the Minister of Health, the Minister of Welfare, members of parliament, and several officials in the eleventh government 'in hopes of successfully reforming anesthesia fees and reducing the intensity of protests from specialists in this field.' However, it seems that these negotiations have not led to any results, as Fars News Agency reported on Friday, September 1, quoting a responsible official from the Anesthesiology Association that anesthesiologists have still not received a 'convincing response.' According to Atabak Najafi, the secretary of the Iranian Anesthesiology and Critical Care Association, 'If we do not receive a convincing response from this authority and the officials of the Ministry of Health do not convince us, we may not anesthetize some patients.' Meanwhile, according to the association's inspector, Ali Haj Qasemi, 'the lack of financial resources' has been cited by the cabinet as the reason for the reduction in anesthesia fees. Some members of the Iranian Anesthesiology Association have met with several government officials, including the Minister of Health and the Minister of Labor, yet, according to reports, they have still not achieved their demands. Atabak Najafi reported last year from Mehr News Agency that the number of anesthesiologists in Iran is 4,500. Meanwhile, according to the same report, there are only '1,500 surgical beds in the country's hospitals, meaning three anesthesiologists for each bed.'
Continued Protests by Anesthesiologists: 'We May Not Anesthetize Some Patients'
Anesthesiologists in Iran are protesting against a 25% reduction in their fees, threatening to not anesthetize patients if their demands are not met. The protests highlight issues of discrimination and financial constraints within the healthcare system. This situation raises concerns about patient care and the broader implications for Iran's healthcare infrastructure.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Anesthesiologists in Iran are protesting against a 25% reduction in their fees, threatening to cease anesthetizing patients if their demands are not met. Despite meetings with government officials, they have not received a satisfactory response regarding their compensation.
- The fee reduction was approved in 2017 during Hassan Rouhani's administration.
- There are 4,500 anesthesiologists in Iran, but only 1,500 surgical beds available.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran's healthcare system has been facing financial challenges, leading to dissatisfaction among healthcare providers. The reduction in fees for anesthesiologists is a specific example of these broader issues.
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 90%