More pediatricians needed soon

Many lawmakers are proposing the enrollment of more undergraduates in pediatric studies to cater to the country's upcoming baby boom.

Qian Yuan, a lawmaker and researcher at the Capital Institute of Pediatrics, said 6,531 pediatricians quit their jobs in 14 provinces over the past three years. She said her survey found that as many as 11 percent of pediatricians resigned from hospitals and opted for other professions.

The majority of these pediatricians were 35 years old or younger.