Ministry says police needed to protect Chinese hospital staff

Attacks on Chinese medical staff by upset patients and their relatives have become such a problem that police should be stationed in hospitals, state media reported Friday.

The country's health ministry made the recommendation, the China Daily said, after 5,500 medical workers were injured in attacks last year in disputes that also caused more than 200 million yuan (US$26 million; euro19 million) in property damage.

"The police should be more involved in safeguarding hospital staff," ministry spokesman Mao Qun'an was quoted as saying.

Cooperation between police and hospitals was needed "to halt the violent trend," the newspaper said.

Late last year, medical staff in a hospital in Shenzhen, just over the border from Hong Kong in booming Guangdong province, were forced to wear helmets after being attacked by relatives demanding compensation over a patient's death, the newspaper reported.

Disputes over medical care have increased since market reforms were introduced along with charging for health care in the 1980s. Corruption in the form of overcharging and fake treatments are also common.