China to harshly punish crimes in doctor-patient flare-ups

China will crack down on criminal conduct that disrupts medical work as doctor-patient tensions flare up across the country.

Such crimes undermine the social stability, the National Health and Family Planning Commission said Friday in a statement.

Authorities issued a guideline in April to severely punish crimes including attacking doctors and damaging public property, restricting doctors' freedom, insulting medical workers, and instigating others to commit crimes against medical staff.

Crimes such as assaulting doctors and damaging hospitals are not rare in China. There have been cases of aggrieved families setting up shrines in hospitals, especially when they accuse staff of negligence leading to the deaths of loved ones.

Medical institutions are required to report it to the police as soon as such criminal conduct occurs, according to the statement.