Masoud Pezeshkian’s Modest Fees Defy Iran’s Medical Market

According to Saed News, there was once a time when Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian performed complex heart operations for a monthly salary equivalent to 200,000 tomans—while other cardiac specialists were earning up to 200 million tomans per procedure. This striking contrast was highlighted by Eisa Kalantari in a recent interview with the reformist daily Etemad, shedding light on Pezeshkian’s enduring commitment to public service and professional ethics.

Kalantari, who has known Pezeshkian for 35 years, praised his unassuming nature and refusal to indulge in populist theatrics. “He does not put on airs,” Kalantari remarked. “His essence is exactly what people witness in him.” At a juncture when certain surgeons capitalised on private practice to amass extraordinary fees, Pezeshkian’s willingness to serve at such modest remuneration exemplified his belief that medical care should not be subject to unfettered market forces.

Beyond his fee structure, Pezeshkian’s career trajectory reflects unwavering adherence to principle. Whether in academic posts or ministerial roles, he has consistently grounded his decisions in founding ideas and personal convictions. According to Kalantari, “Wherever he serves, he works based on his beliefs and commitments.” This ethos has earned Pezeshkian respect both within Iran’s medical community and among the wider public, who view him as a rare figure of integrity in a sector increasingly influenced by commercial imperatives.

In an era of widening income disparities, Pezeshkian’s example prompts reflection on the values that should govern professions entrusted with public welfare—suggesting that modesty, rather than monetary ambition, remains the noblest hallmark of service.