Background: Anesthesiologists play a vital role in ensuring the safe and effective performance of surgical procedures, critical care, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and pain management. However, the growing shortage of anesthesiologists in underserved provinces such as Lorestan has evolved into a hidden yet serious crisis within the public health system. According to official data from the Ministry of Health’s HRMIS system, the ratio of anesthesiologists in Lorestan is less than 1/5 per 100,000 population, significantly below the national average of 3/2 per 100,000. The roots of this crisis extend beyond a mere shortage of personnel and stem from a combination of structural, economic, and institutional factors. Without multilayered and coordinated policy interventions, this trend will not only persist but intensify, leading to severe consequences for the quality of healthcare services and patient satisfaction. Potential policy measures include increasing compensation and financial incentives for physicians serving in deprived areas, prioritizing service obligations for specialists, offering flexible contractual arrangements for those employed in the private sector, and providing non-financial incentive packages and social support benefits, all of which could have a significant impact on alleviating the crisis.
Subject:
جراحی Received: 2025/09/21 | Accepted: 2025/11/7 | Published: 2025/11/1