With physicians and nurses emigrating abroad, the human resources crisis in Iran’s healthcare system has entered a new phase. The findings of a research report announced on May 30 by the spokesperson of the Iranian Psychiatric Association in the state-run Khabar Fouri news outlet show that a large proportion of medical residents intend to leave the country, and many regret choosing their specialty training path. These figures are being released amid numerous reports in recent years about the emigration of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
Physician Migration; The First Choice for Many Residents
Amirhossein Jalali Nadoushan, spokesperson for the Iranian Psychiatric Association, stated on May 30 that according to the results of a multicenter survey conducted at four medical universities across the country, 81.5% of 254 medical residents expressed a desire to emigrate.
Iranian Regime Medical Council Confirms Arrest of Doctors After Protests
According to the study, 79.5% of participants said that if they had known the actual conditions of residency training before entering their specialty programs, they would have preferred emigration over becoming residents. These figures indicate that dissatisfaction with educational and professional conditions among a segment of young medical professionals has reached an unprecedented level.
Jalali Nadoushan emphasized that about 28% of participants had moderate to serious plans to emigrate. Nevertheless, he described the level of physician migration as highly significant.
The Erosion of Hope Among Medical Residents
The spokesperson for the Iranian Psychiatric Association believes that the gap between the desire to emigrate and concrete plans to leave reflects a deeper issue. He stressed that the matter is not solely physician migration, but also diminishing hope for professional prospects and a lack of confidence in the possibility of improving working conditions in the country.
According to the same study, 81.1% of residents reported having little or no hope for improvement in the current situation. Healthcare experts view this figure as a potential sign of a broader human resources crisis within the healthcare system.
Jalali Nadoushan warned that if this trend continues, it could directly affect the quality of healthcare services, public access to specialist physicians, and the level of burnout among healthcare workers in the coming years.
Heavy Workloads and Controversial Policies
One of the most important issues highlighted in the report is the working conditions of medical residents. Nadoushan also criticized certain policies in medical education, stating that some decisions made in recent years have not only failed to solve existing problems but have worsened the crisis, ultimately contributing to physician migration.
According to him, at a time when some specialists are leaving the country or exiting the healthcare workforce, expanding educational capacity without providing the necessary resources could undermine the quality of medical education.
Expanded Enrollment and Concerns About Educational Quality
Jalali Nadoushan said in another part of his remarks: “Medical education requires specialized infrastructure, hospital facilities, and appropriate educational equipment, and increasing capacity without providing these resources can have extensive consequences for the healthcare system.” He warned that decisions made in this area have not only failed to reduce existing crises but have also created new problems, including physician migration.
Physician and Nurse Migration; A Crisis Beyond Statistics
In conclusion, the spokesperson for the Iranian Psychiatric Association referred to the ongoing departure of nurses and healthcare workers from the country. According to him, large numbers of trained Iranian nurses have been recruited by European and North American countries in recent years. He emphasized that when physicians emigrate, replacing professionals who have been trained for years within the country’s healthcare system is not easily possible. These individuals possess experience, expertise, and social understanding that will take considerable time to pass on to future generations.
The statistics showing widespread interest among residents in emigration are more than just numbers or survey results. They portray a deeper crisis, one in which some of the country’s youngest and most highly trained professionals are seeking their future beyond Iran’s borders. When more than 80% of medical residents are disillusioned with current conditions and many prefer emigration over continuing their careers in the country, the issue extends beyond physician shortages or educational problems; it reflects an erosion of confidence in the future.
Dissatisfaction Has Spread Across All Segments of Society
At the same time, growing labor and social protests among various groups—including workers, teachers, retirees, nurses, and physicians—suggest that dissatisfaction with current conditions is not limited to any single segment of society. Many critics believe that fundamental change in Iran will not come through repeated promises or unsuccessful reforms, but through social organization, the expansion of resistance, and the role of forces seeking change.
