A member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) from Fujian province, Zhang Fan, made a proposal for a new law to help build better doctor-patient relations, at the Second Session of the 12th National Committee of the CPPCC, which opened in Beijing, on March 3.

Doctor-patient relations have become a major topic in the area of social problems, with increasing numbers of disputes showing up in recent years. In response, Zhang suggested that they could have a law that covered important issues such as defaulting on payments, rights infringement, and general payments to protect both doctors and patients.

Zhang suggested using a third party, such as an organization, to see that the people working in medicine and patients behaved as they should, while there could also be a compulsory insurance system, and an arbitration and intermediary system.

By Lu Ting from China Daily Fujian Bureau, and Zhao Qian

Edited by Roger Bradshaw