Iran Hospital Units Close Due to Severe Nurse Shortage

Severe nurse shortages have forced hospitals across Iran to close critical units, including intensive care and emergency departments, the head of the country’s nursing organization said.

Ahmad Nejatian, director general of the Nursing Organization, confirmed the closures during a television program.

He said at least two medical units have closed in many cities, leaving patients without vital services.

Nejatian warned that if the trend continues, complete hospital closures are possible.

He said 2,000 new hospital beds will open in Tehran over the next few years, but no plan exists to provide the 3,000 nurses needed for the project.

Nejatian said hospital infrastructure and equipment are available, but a lack of staff has left projects on paper while patients face a healthcare crisis.

For years, nurses in Iran have voiced their frustrations about overwhelming workloads, inadequate compensation, and a shortage of employment opportunities.

However, their demands have largely remained unanswered.

The misallocation of resources by the government and the recent hiring and deployment of officers to crack down on women not wearing the mandatory headscarf have created a system that undervalues the crucial role played by nurses, contributing to their mass migration