BEIJING -- Chinese authorities have decided on a one-year campaign against hospital-related crimes to protect medical personnel and institutions.

Starting this month, nine agencies, including the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Justice will focus on crimes committed in hospitals or against medical staff, according to the NHFPC.

The campaign sets out to improve order and safety at medical institutions, said NHFPC official Guo Yanhong.

Abuse and violence against medical staff, including some fatalities, and harassments of medical institutions, have prompted similar campaigns since 2013.

Around 4,000 organizations have been set up to mediate medical disputes and helped in 71,000 conflicts, with an estimated success rate of more than 85 percent.

Since 2013, medical disputes and hospital-related crimes have decreased, while doctor-patient relations have generally improved, the NHFPC said.