30,000 Iranian Physicians Living Below Poverty Line

Iran Focus: Tehran, Sep. 23 – In a country where doctors have one of the highest social status, 30,000 physicians live below the poverty line, according to the head of Iran’s General Practitioners Association.
“Contrary to what is perceived, there are at present 30,000 general practitioners around the country who are living under the poverty line,” … Iran Focus

Tehran, Sep. 23 – In a country where doctors have one of the highest social status, 30,000 physicians live below the poverty line, according to the head of Iran’s General Practitioners Association.

“Contrary to what is perceived, there are at present 30,000 general practitioners around the country who are living under the poverty line,” said the Deputy Minister of Health Mohammad Esmaeil Akbari.

A recent survey carried out by the Iranian Youth Organisation showed that only 26 percent of the country’s youth (15 yrs to 29 yrs old) manage to find employment.

In recent years, many newly-graduated doctors have been forced to find other work as there is a lack of medical jobs available. Many have second jobs at nights.

Iran has for the past several years held the highest record in ‘brain-drain’ with more and more professionals leaving the country looking for employment elsewhere.