Iran faces serious shortage of doctors | Ministry of Health: Medical personnel have gone abroad

Iran's Ministry of Health has reported a serious shortage of doctors due to the emigration of doctors from the country.

Iraj Harirchi, Deputy Minister of Health, told ISNA news agency on Sunday, July 29, that the current index of the number of general practitioners, specialists, and dentists in the country is 1.6 per 1,000 people, while the minimum required number of doctors in this field is 2.5 per 1,000 people, and many countries in the world have an index of between 3.5 and 5 per 1,000 people.

The Health Ministry official added: "Despite the training of medical personnel we had, a number of these people have gone abroad due to considerations that existed in the selection of students and based on their conditions. Accordingly, we are facing a serious shortage of doctors."

Previously, a member of the Parliament's Health and Treatment Commission had reported a shortage of medical personnel, even specialist doctors, in deprived areas of Iran.

Source: Voice of America