DUBAI, UAE - More than 57,000 medical and pharmacy graduates in Iraq have applied for positions in the health sector this year, but with only 29,000 job openings available, thousands face an uncertain future, according to the head of the Iraqi parliament’s health committee.

Majid Shingali criticized the handling of the country's medical employment policy during a television interview on Wednesday. 

He highlighted that health institutions across Iraq only require 15,000 new hires, far fewer than the number of applicants.

“The government and parliament should have amended the Medical Progression Law and aligned appointments with actual needs five years ago,” Shingali said. “The current situation is a direct result of failing to address these issues earlier.”

Shingali also expressed concern over the lack of transparency from the government, arguing that students were not properly informed about the financial constraints and limited job opportunities before enrolling in medical programs. 

“Students invest significant amounts of money in their education without knowing the reality of the job market,” he said.

The crisis is compounded by a surge in the number of private medical colleges, which Shingali said are exacerbating the problem. “The issue is not with public medical schools, but with the excessive number of private institutions.”

Last week, dozens of medical professionals, including recent graduates from pharmacy, dentistry, and nursing schools, protested outside the Ministry of Finance in Baghdad, demanding government jobs. 

The demonstration turned violent, with more than 30 protesters, most of them recent graduates, injured in clashes with police and riot control forces.

Under Law No. 6 of 2000, the government is obligated to place medical graduates in public hospitals and health institutions. However, the sharp increase in the number of graduates in recent years has made it difficult for the public sector to absorb them, raising concerns about widespread unemployment in the medical field in the coming years.