Mass Exodus: Thousands of Iranian Nurses Depart for Better Opportunities Amid Low Wages and Challenging Conditions
Iran’s healthcare sector is experiencing a severe crisis as trained nurses are rejecting low wages, excessive workloads, and systemic inequality. This troubling situation has led many to either refuse to return to their jobs or seek better opportunities abroad, highlighting the challenges faced by healthcare professionals in the country.
On October 18, Mohammad Sharifi-Moghaddam, the secretary-general of the Iranian Nurses’ House, revealed that “around 60,000 to 70,000 nurses are unemployed but unwilling to return to their jobs.” He emphasized the struggles many nurses face, stating, “a salary under 20 million tomans for a woman with two children barely covers daycare costs, and she also has to bear the emotional cost of being away from her children. In such a situation, staying home costs less.”
Sharifi-Moghaddam criticized health officials for their disconnect from the realities faced by ordinary staff, asserting that they cannot grasp the difficulties of low wages as “their own salaries amount to hundreds of millions.” This detachment from the workforce has exacerbated the challenges nurses encounter.
Many nurses are leaving their positions due to a combination of factors, including:
- Difficult working conditions
- Psychological stress
- Wage disparities
As a result, some have sought employment in fields unrelated to healthcare, such as insurance or medical equipment, while others have taken jobs at nail salons or as drivers for ride-hailing services. This trend highlights a significant shift in career paths due to the untenable conditions within the nursing sector.
Mansoureh Khavari, the head of nursing at Mahdieh Hospital, echoed these sentiments on October 18, stating that nurses’ earnings do not adequately reflect the intensity and challenges of their roles. She remarked, “If working conditions, overtime, and pay matched the difficulty of the job, the situation would change, and more graduates would be willing to join the profession.”
Furthermore, Khavari noted a sharp decline in applicants for nursing recruitment exams, which now fall below the quotas set for medical universities. This decline underscores the growing disinterest in the nursing profession among new graduates.
Karim Abedini, a nurse in a Tehran chemotherapy ward, highlighted the dire staffing situation in hospitals. He reported that in some departments, “two nurses and one assistant must care for thirty patients.” This is significantly below health system standards, which recommend:
- At least three nurses per thousand citizens
- Two nurses per hospital bed
Currently, Iran’s nurse-to-bed ratio averages only 1.1, with some provinces reporting figures as low as 0.8. This alarming shortage is further exacerbated by a steady outflow of skilled nursing professionals.
Abbas Ebadi, the deputy for nursing affairs at the Ministry of Health, confirmed in early September that 570 nurses emigrated from Iran in 2025 alone. He acknowledged that the country requires at least 100,000 additional nurses to meet the growing demand for healthcare services.
However, Sharifi-Moghaddam challenged these official figures, asserting that “many nurses leave the country without filing for formal migration permits,” suggesting that the actual number of emigrating nurses could be significantly higher. This ongoing exodus, combined with widespread disillusionment among nurses, reflects a broader collapse in morale within Iran’s public sector.
The challenges faced by nurses are emblematic of the broader issues plaguing Iran’s healthcare system. Years of inflation, poor management, and escalating inequality have pushed essential workers to the brink of exhaustion and despair.
In conclusion, the ongoing crisis in Iran’s healthcare sector calls for urgent attention and reform. It is crucial for policymakers to address the underlying issues of wage disparity, working conditions, and staffing shortages to ensure that nurses can continue to provide essential care to the population. Without meaningful changes, the future of healthcare in Iran remains uncertain, and the exodus of skilled professionals is likely to continue.
