30% Salary Increase for Medical Residents, Urgent Need for Incentives in Key Specialties
Iran’s Minister of Health announced a 30% salary raise for medical residents and confirmed that residency is now officially recognized as employment. He also expressed concern over the shortage of applicants in critical specialties such as anesthesiology, pediatrics, and emergency medicine, calling for targeted incentives.
Dr. Mohammadreza Zafarghandi, Iran’s Minister of Health, visited the site of the 52nd Medical Specialty Residency Entrance Exam held on Thursday, May 9, at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran. He described the exam as one of the most significant events in the country’s medical education and healthcare system.
Emphasizing the role of personal interest in specialty selection, the minister expressed concern over the lack of applicants in certain essential fields. “Unfortunately, some critical specialties such as anesthesiology, emergency medicine, and pediatrics are experiencing a shortage of applicants, which fails to meet the country’s healthcare needs,” he stated. He attributed this trend to issues like income disparities and workload, emphasizing the need for specific incentives to encourage more medical graduates to choose these specialties.
Dr. Zafarghandi noted that, despite a 12% increase in residency admissions approved by the Parliament, the intake still falls short in key areas. He said the issue is being seriously addressed in the Supreme Council of Health Insurance.
On the topic of residency training conditions, he remarked, “This stage of medical education is of acceptable quality and reasonably manageable.” He announced that residents’ salaries have been increased by 30% in recent months, with married residents receiving even higher raises.
He also highlighted a major policy shift: as of the beginning of this year, residency training is officially recognized as employment under the national budget law. This move grants medical residents formal job status, addressing long-standing concerns about their financial and professional recognition.
