According to the health commission, outpatient visits nationwide increased by 300 million from 2014 to 2015. But medical disputes dropped by about 8 percent to 71,000 during the period.

More than 80 percent of medical disputes were resolved through civil meditation, said Jiao Yahui, an official at the commission. She said law enforcement should be strengthened to crack down on violence against doctors.

"A satisfactory doctor-patient relationship also requires a good medical system behind it," she said.

Wang Xiaodong contributed to this story.

What they say

Even if a doctor is at fault, there is no excuse for violence. Violence against doctors only encourages conflicts between patients and medical staff.

Li Ying, deputy director of the Health News Media Research Center at Communication University of China

Public trust of medical staff has eroded, and many medical incidents have been reported in recent years. Only a better system that values doctors' work, respects people's lives and brings equal rights to both sides can fundamentally resolve the conflict.

Xu Feng, journalist in Shanghai

Not just me but many of my colleagues are unwilling to encourage our children to study medicine. Safety is a basic need for us. If our lives cannot even be guaranteed, I can't see any charm in the work.

Yang Li, physician at Kunming Children's Hospital in Yunnan province