Nurses employed at Fayazbakhsh Hospital in Iran encountered physical assaults and detentions, resulting in several being dismissed or suspended from their positions, following a strike over inadequate working conditions, according to a report from Iran International on Tuesday.

Staff members at the Tehran facility initiated the strike on July 30 due to excessive workloads, insufficient pay, and critical shortages in personnel.

Authorities reportedly beat and held many nurses, seizing their mobile devices in the process.

Following the action, hospital management suspended and terminated multiple employees, though precise figures are unavailable.

Nurses Highlight Unpaid Salaries and Substandard Conditions

Radio Zamaneh, an independent media outlet in Persian based in Amsterdam, noted that demonstrations occurred in Iranshahr and Ilam as well.

The Nurses’ Protest Coordination Council stated that wage arrears for some nurses have extended to 10 months with minimal improvements to their financial circumstances.

"We are nurses, not slaves, and we will not submit to forced labor," the council declared.

Iranian officials and hospital administrators have not issued public statements regarding the events.

Authorities Caution About Worsening Nursing Shortage

Despite limited coverage in Iran, Dr. Yousef Rahimi, first vice president of the Supreme Council of the Nursing Organization, informed the Iranian Students’ News Agency of his letter to the presidential office requesting more resources and a special allowance for nurses.

“Implementing the special allowance is the only solution to compensating for the wage gap between different groups in the Health Ministry. Certainly, the special allowance, together with the ‘recruitment allowance,’ can help address salary disparities. The Health Ministry has requested a recruitment allowance, but it appears that the response to the ministry’s request has been negative,” he explained, noting that nurses should receive 25,000 points.

Rahimi pointed out that current salaries at 25 million tomans fail to meet living expenses.

“When income is insufficient to meet living costs, workers choose to migrate to other countries or leave their jobs. Even if they do not choose professional migration or travel abroad, they lack sufficient motivation to provide services and work without concentration. Ultimately, those receiving healthcare services suffer from these conditions,” he cautioned.

Mehr News Agency indicated that a package is under consideration to offer nurses boarding houses, tax exemptions, and enhanced support.

Iran faces a growing nursing shortage, with approximately 5,000 professionals exiting the field each year, per Mehr.