Woman doctor stabbed in Beijing

Beijing, April 13 (IANS) A woman doctor at a hospital in Beijing was Friday stabbed by a knife-wielding masked man, the second such incident in China within a month.

The attack took place around 10.30 a.m. at the Peking University People's Hospital.

Xing Zhimin of the otolaryngological department, who was receiving a patient at the time, was attacked by the masked man, a hospital spokesman told Xinhua.

Xing was wounded and the assailant fled the spot.

Later, the ministry of health issued a statement on its website urging authorities to take concrete measures to ensure the security of medical institutes.

"Medical institutions are where members of the public go to seek treatment for distressing illnesses. Violent crimes that occur in these places must be strongly condemned. The hospitals should be able to continue treating people as usual, and the safety of medical staff and patients must be ensured," the ministry said.

This was the second such attack on doctors in the country in less than a month.

On March 23, a 17-year-old patient barged into an office at the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University in Harbin city, and stabbed four medical practitioners in the head and neck before trying to take his own life.

One wounded medical intern died and three other hospital staff were injured.

The suspect reportedly attacked the staff because he was not given immediate treatment when seeking medical help.