Iran’s Healthcare Crisis: Thousands of Doctors Exit, Sparking Specialist Shortage

A recent report has unveiled a pressing issue within Iran’s healthcare system, revealing widespread inefficiency amid a significant doctor migration crisis. Despite having a surplus of general practitioners, the country is grappling with a severe shortage of specialist doctors and an imbalanced distribution of healthcare services.

Citing data from the Medical System Organization, state-affiliated Nournews reported on September 18 that nearly 29 percent of registered general practitioners in Iran are not actively practicing medicine. Out of more than 104,000 registered general practitioners, at least 30,000 have completely exited the medical profession.

This alarming statistic demonstrates the waste of educational, financial, and human resources in a nation that is already facing a crisis of specialist doctor shortages and inequitable health service distribution, as noted by Nournews.

Misguided Policies and Wasted Resources

The report criticized the authorities for their continued focus on increasing the number of general practitioners as a solution to the doctor shortage. According to Nournews, the government’s policy of boosting admissions for general medical studies has led to an “inefficient human resource inflation,” neglecting the urgent need for training and retaining specialists.

The financial implications are significant, as the cost of training a single general practitioner is estimated to be tens of thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, many graduates have either transitioned to other professions for better financial prospects, taken on non-medical jobs, or completely abandoned the field of medicine.

Shortage of Specialists Threatens the System

The shortage of specialist physicians has been a recurring issue highlighted by health officials and experts in recent years. On July 7, Abbasali Raiskarami, president of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, expressed concern over the declining interest among medical graduates in six critical specialized and subspecialty fields, including:

• Pediatrics
• Anesthesia
• Infectious Diseases

He indicated that the lack of volunteers in these essential disciplines presents a serious challenge to Iran’s healthcare system. This concern was further emphasized in the latest medical assistant examination, where a significant number of available slots in vital specialties remained unfilled. Specifically, only:

• 10 percent of the capacity in emergency medicine
• 32 percent in anesthesia
• 22 percent in pediatrics
• 15 percent in infectious diseases

These statistics illustrate critical gaps in the healthcare system that need immediate attention.

Migration Adds to the Crisis

The Nournews report also pointed out the increasing trend of physician migration to Europe and North America, describing it as a “worrying development.” Key factors contributing to this trend include:

• Poor working conditions
• Low salaries
• Heavy workloads
• Lack of job security
• Uncertainty about career prospects

On September 15, Shahin Akhundzadeh, Deputy Minister of Research and Technology at the Ministry of Health, acknowledged that establishing a meritocratic system is essential for retaining medical elites. He revealed that “often the top 100 candidates” in medical science fields emigrate due to unfavorable recruitment conditions in Iran.

Unequal Distribution Deepens Inequalities

In addition to the overall shortage of specialists, the distribution of healthcare professionals across the country is significantly unequal. Official statistics indicate that 42 percent of specialist physicians are concentrated in just five metropolitan cities. In some specialties, up to 60 percent of doctors are located in Tehran alone, leaving vast areas of the country underserved and exacerbating health inequalities.

A Deepening Healthcare Dilemma

The findings of this report underscore a structural crisis in Iran’s healthcare system. While thousands of general practitioners remain inactive or seek opportunities abroad, the shortage of specialists in crucial fields continues to compromise patient care. The combination of wasted training investments, poor workforce planning, and uneven distribution presents a serious threat to the sustainability of healthcare delivery in the country, leaving millions of Iranians without access to essential medical services.