Some communication between patients and doctors in Shanghai hospitals will be done through a third party to ease conflicts, an official said on Thursday.

Shen Xiaochu, director of the municipal commission of health and family planning, said in an interview that the third party could be a social organization or individual, such as a social worker, health care worker or medical specialist paid by the government.

He added the third party will replace hospitals and doctors to communicate with patients, especially when dealing with economic issues. "We do not suggest doctors and patients talk about money issues directly since it is one of the main causes of conflicts."

He said the doctor-patient relationship should be based on trust and care. Improper handling of the relationship could will lead to conflicts or even hospital violence.

Statistics showed that about 224 million people receive outpatient services and nearly 1.5 million operations are performed in Shanghai each year. The city reports between 6,000 and 7,000 medical disputes annually.

Hospital violence is growing in China. In east China's Jiangsu Province, a doctor from a county hospital was stabbed to death in the staff lounge by a patient who was upset with the treatment received and the medical expenses.

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