Iranian President Hassan Rouhani accepts the resignation of his health minister, Hassan Qazizadeh Hashemi, days after the official announced his decision to leave the cabinet over budget issues.

In a decree on Thursday, Rouhani appointed Saeed Namaki as caretaker of Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education.

The president also thanked the outgoing minister for his sincere efforts towards promoting the country's health sector.

Qazizadeh Hashemi stepped down from his post last week due to differences with the administration over health spending cuts in the budget bill submitted to the Iranian Parliament (Majlis). </s> Iran’s health minister has resigned over proposed budget cuts, the official news agency IRNA reported, amid an economic crisis wrought by the reimposition of US sanctions on Tehran.

 IRNA said on Thursday President Hassan Rouhani accepted the resignation of Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi, widely seen as the key official behind the 2014 launch of an ambitious plan for universal medical insurance sometimes dubbed “Rouhanicare.”

 Hashemi had repeatedly complained about delays in payments of budgeted funds in the past and about cuts in his ministry’s budget under the new state spending plans, IRNA said.

 US President Donald Trump reintroduced sanctions on Iran last year, targeting in particular the country’s lifeblood oil sector, after pulling out of a 2015 nuclear deal.—Agencies </s> By The Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian state TV says the health minister has resigned over spending cuts in a budget submitted to parliament last week. It says President Hassan Rouhani accepted Health Minister Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi’s…

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian state TV says the health minister has resigned over spending cuts in a budget submitted to parliament last week.

It says President Hassan Rouhani accepted Health Minister Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi’s resignation on Thursday.

Iran is in the grip of an economic crisis and has seen sporadic protests in recent months as officials try to downplay the effects of renewed U.S. sanctions.

The $47.5 billion budget is less than half the size of last year’s, mainly due to the severe depreciation of the local currency following President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

The U.S. has restored crippling sanctions in recent months, including on Iran’s energy and banking sectors.

Copyright © 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed. </s> Iran's health minister has resigned over proposed budget cuts as the country struggles with an economic crisis.

Iran's official IRNA news agency reported that President Hassan Rohani accepted the resignation of Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi on January 3.

IRNA reported that Hashemi had repeatedly complained of a shortage of funds in the past and about proposed cuts to his ministry in the government's next budget.

"I am not an impatient person, but enough is enough," Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi said in a video posted to the Khabar One news portal on January 3.

Hashemi's resignation comes amid a financial crisis fueled partly by U.S. sanctions that were reimposed last year.

The United States reinstated sanctions on Iran in November after pulling out of a 2015 nuclear deal, in which Tehran received international sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.

Washington’s withdrawal from the agreement has helped fuel a currency crisis and has increased food prices and inflation.

Based on reporting by Reuters and dpa </s> In a Thursday message, Rouhani appreciated the efforts of Hashemi during these years as health minister and accepted his resignation.

Iranian President also appointed Saeed Namaki as the caretaker of Ministry of Health and Medical Education in absence of a minister.

Hashemi had handed in his resignation to Rouhani last week. According to reports, the main reason behind his decision is due to the reduction of health sector budget in the Budget Bill for the next Iranian calendar year 1398 (to start March 21, 2019). </s> TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian state TV says the health minister has resigned over spending cuts in a budget submitted to parliament last week.

It says President Hassan Rouhani accepted Health Minister Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi's resignation on Thursday.

Iran is in the grip of an economic crisis and has seen sporadic protests in recent months as officials try to downplay the effects of renewed U.S. sanctions.

The $47.5 billion budget is less than half the size of last year's, mainly due to the severe depreciation of the local currency following President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

The U.S. has restored crippling sanctions in recent months, including on Iran's energy and banking sectors. </s> DUBAI: Iran's health minister has resigned over proposed budget cuts, the official news agency IRNA reported, amid an economic crisis wrought by the reimposition of U.S. sanctions on Tehran.

IRNA said on Thursday President Hassan Rouhani accepted the resignation of Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi, widely seen as the key official behind the 2014 launch of an ambitious plan for universal medical insurance sometimes dubbed "Rouhanicare".

Hashemi had repeatedly complained about delays in payments of budgeted funds in the past and about cuts in his ministry's budget under the new state spending plans, IRNA said.

U.S. President Donald Trump reintroduced sanctions on Iran last year, targeting in particular the country's lifeblood oil sector, after pulling out of a 2015 nuclear deal. The move has helped depress the value of Iran's rial currency and aggravated annual inflation fourfold to nearly 40 percent in November.

Last month, Rouhani presented a US$47 billion draft state budget with increased spending on lower income groups, saying the U.S. sanctions would affect people's lives and economic growth but not bring the government to its knees.

Despite the rise in the rial value of the budget, however, it is effectively worth about half of the current budget because of the recent weakening of the currency and galloping inflation.

In recent months, various Iranian cities have been rocked by demonstrations as factory workers, teachers, truck drivers and farmers protested against economic hardship and corruption. </s> Iran’s health minister has resigned, saying he could not accept any further cuts to his budget as the country struggles with a severe financial crisis.

“I am not an impatient person, but enough is enough,” Hassan Hashemi said on a video posted to the Khabar One portal on Thursday.

Reports that Mr Hashemi had resigned have been circulating for days, but on Thursday came confirmation on state media that President Hassan Rowhani had accepted his decision.

Mr Hashemi said he could no longer work effectively given the restricted spending limits proposed in the government’s next budget.

The ministry’s budget was significantly cut for the year beginning March 21.

The cuts were linked to an acute financial crisis caused partly by U.S. sanctions that were re-imposed in 2018.

As the sanctions have hit oil exports, it is not clear how much the state will earn from oil revenues in the future.

The U.S. measures have badly affected the health sector, as some medicines cannot be imported due to bank sanctions.

The sanctions have also put moderate Mr Rowhani under serious political pressure.

He has had to reorganise his cabinet due to pressure from parliament.

Many Iranians are also unhappy that the government is spending money in conflicts abroad – including in wars in Yemen and Syria, and in support of Palestinians – instead of focusing on domestic affairs. </s> Iran's parliament impeached Economy Minister Masoud Karbasian on Sunday in the latest blow to embattled President Hassan Rouhani as he struggles to face down a mounting economic crisis.

Karbasian is the second cabinet minister to be sacked this month, following the impeachment of Labour Minister Ali Rabiei on August 8.

He lost a vote of confidence, which was carried live on state radio, by 137 votes to 121, with two abstentions.

The outcome sees him stripped of his post with immediate effect, leaving Rouhani to pick a replacement.

Critics say the government squandered the opportunities presented by the 2015 nuclear deal and have failed to tackle high rates of inflation and joblessness.
Iran's health minister Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi resigns in protest against a medical budget. His resignation was accepted by President Hassan Rouhani.