Aging society poses problem for nation's older doctors

"When I had just left school, I was full of enthusiasm and wanted to do everything, such as perform surgery," she said. "But in that case, I would need a team — for example, an anesthetist in my department — but there wasn't one. That has greatly restricted my ability to spread my wings."

When Cao was recruited by the hospital in 1992, there was only one elderly doctor in the ear, nose and throat department, who Cao refers to as her "teacher". He retired a few years later, after Cao had served her apprenticeship. Other departments, from ophthalmology to dermatology to traditional Chinese medicine, also only have one doctor.

Therefore, when patients need major surgery, they must be transferred to larger hospitals in Xianyang and Xi'an, she said. "Our practitioners here are relatively weak," Cao said.

However, she said she never regrets her choice to return home.

"For my generation, there were no so-called choices after graduation. Personal wishes are secondary to taking care of the family," she added.