One of the indicators of sustainable development in a country that has a direct relationship with human rights and citizenship is the field of health and hygiene. Today, with the growth of population and medical advancements, providing medical services requires having expertise in the human field and access to advanced equipment that meets the needs of society. What is always of concern to governments and people is to train specialized forces in the field of health and provide hardware and software facilities in the field of health to maintain health and medical standards in society as much as possible. In this regard, one of the most basic questions that every Iranian asks is whether the medical facilities in the field of health in the country are in line with the needs of society? And are the claims of officials regarding medical and health advancements in line with reality?

According to statistical analysis, as stated by Masoud Falahi, Deputy Director of Nursing at the Ministry of Health, there are currently 900 active hospitals and 250,000 nurses in the country. He also mentioned that there are 82 nursing and midwifery schools affiliated with medical universities and health care centers, with a total of 160 nursing training centers in the country.

According to the statistics provided by the Statistical Center of Iran, the total number of hospital beds in both private and government sectors in our country is 120,000, which means there are approximately 160 beds for every 100,000 people, or one bed for every 625 people. For every hospital bed, there are also 7.5 nurses in the country.

On the other hand, the percentage of cesarean sections in government hospitals is around 50 to 55 percent and in private hospitals it is around 100 percent, which is one of the worst indicators globally. The unemployment rate of midwives in the country is also more than 70 percent. Additionally, the consumption of antibiotics in the country is about three times the global average and some doctors prescribe medication excessively, with the average drug consumption in the country being twice the global average.

According to the unpublished report of the former Minister of Welfare, Engineer Mahsouli, about 70% of the money received by doctors from patients outside of their salary is received by surgeons. The Tansim News Agency also writes: Based on comparative studies, Iranian specialist doctors earn more than $418,000 annually; meaning the highest-earning medical specialists in the world are in Iran, which is surprising considering the average income of an Iranian.

The negative trend and deficiencies in the healthcare sector in Iran are increasing significantly as we move away from the central areas. The more deprived areas are, the more noticeable and severe these deficiencies become, and this has always been a concern for rural areas. For example, the representative of Jiroft and Amberabad in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, in an interview with the Aftab News Agency, criticized the shortage of specialist doctors in his constituency and called for the government to pay more attention to the deficiencies in these areas. Ms. Shahrazad Mohammadi, the deputy director of health in Amol County, expressed concern about the state of equipment and specialized personnel in the healthcare sector in her conversation with Khat-e-Solh. Ms. Niousha Alimohammadi, the head of the colonoscopy department at the Tehran Digestive Center, also emphasizes that the shortage of personnel and equipment in hospitals has become a normal and daily problem, and although this issue is less

According to today’s Tehran newspaper, the lack of female sonographers in the cities of Iran Shahr, Sarbaz, Mehrastan, Nik Shahr, Nehbandan, Qasr-e Qand, Kanar, and Mirjaveh has caused numerous problems for the people in these areas, especially women. These women, due to traditional and cultural restrictions, may not go to a male sonographer or doctor, and as a result, they either do not take their illnesses seriously or have to travel long distances to reach a city center where they can be seen by a female doctor.

International sanctions have caused serious problems for the country in the field of pharmaceutical production, especially for drugs related to specific diseases. On one hand, the absence of reputable international manufacturers has led to the exploitation and rent-seeking of certain actors, while on the other hand, it has resulted in the entry of non-standard and sometimes counterfeit drugs and equipment into the country, mostly produced by countries like India and China. This has greatly endangered the health of the people.

Based on these statistical cases that are just a drop in the sea of medical and health problems in Iran, it seems that despite government promises and statistics, the country is far behind global average standards in terms of the health and hygiene of its citizens.