This is the shocking moment a furious doctor attacked a patient at a hospital in India following a heated exchange.

Footage shows the medical professional, identified by local media as Dr Raghav Narula and still in his uniform, hitting a man lying on a bed at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Shimla on Monday.

The patient, Arjun Panwar, can be seen defending himself and attempting to strike the doctor while remaining in bed. Another doctor appeared to hold Panwar's legs as he tried to kick the enraged employee.

Local media reported that the assault left Panwar with a bloodied nose.

Panwar had visited the hospital for an endoscopy and reportedly experienced breathing difficulties, prompting him to move to another ward to rest.

He said: 'After the test, I lay down on the bed in the pulmonary ward as the doctors advised me to rest for a while.

'As I was resting, Dr Raghav came and started questioning me about what I was doing there and where my medical test reports were.

'He spoke to me very rudely, and when I told him, 'Is this the way you talk to your family members?' the doctor became enraged and started beating me.'

Himachal Pradesh health minister Dhani Ram Shandil said strict action would be taken against the doctor based on the committee's findings.

He added: 'Directions will also be issued to ensure such incidents do not happen again.'

An investigation is ongoing.