Habibollah Samie was reacting to rumors of job cuts after hospital staff of the Mahshahr Petrochemical Company protested and went on strike in protest to the transfer of hospital management to petrochemical plants. 

“Layoff, dismissal and transfer of PIHO staff at hospital are untrue,” he said.

He added: “Most oil installations in the Mahshahr are belong to the petrochemical sector. Therefore, it would be up to the petrochemical sector to provide healthcare services to its medical population and local residents.”

Samie noted that following the transfer of hospital management, “the contracts signed with the staff will be also transferred to the petrochemical plants and definitely their salary and allowances will increase.”

He said that PIHO was a state-run body, adding: “This organization, due to its state-run structure, is not authorized to purchase equipment and complete healthcare staff for the private sector.”

Samie once more dismissed rumors of layoff and said: “Based on the decision made by PIHO Board, the employees of Mahshahr Petrochemical Industries Hospital, like PIHO staff in other areas, are entitled to professional upgrade, salary raise, allowances and retirement benefits. They will remain there as long as they want themselves.”

He added: “At present, the Mahshahr Petrochemical Industries Hospital is not in good conditions and we hope its privatization would boost its service-providing both in quantity and quality.”