China's top health authorities have launched a joint investigation with the public security ministry into the killing of a doctor in central China's Hunan Province.

Photo shows the rescue of Wang Jun, a doctor with Shaodong County People's Hospital in Shaoyang City, central China's Hunan Province on May 18, 2016. [Photo: weibo.com]

Wang Jun, a doctor with Shaodong County People's Hospital, was beaten by a patient's family members on Wednesday.

Wang was seriously injured and died after five hours treatment.

The patients are two boys aged two and four who had facial injuries due to a car accident, according to a report by the Shaoyang City Health and Family Planning Commission.

The patients' family members believe the doctors gave insufficient checks and treatments to the patients, and knocked down Wang with their fists.

Two suspects have been apprehended and another surrendered himself to police.

China's National Health and Family Planning Commission has strongly condemned the attack in a statement.

The commission says it is a vile criminal act that must be severely punished.

It also says the normal order of medical treatments must be maintained and the personal safety of medical personnel guaranteed.

Violence against medical staff has made headlines in recent years, underscoring strained doctor-patient relations in China.

Earlier this month, a doctor in south China's Guangdong Province was killed by his former patient who allegedly had a history of mental disorders.

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