"Fish Bone Removal Service"... Unusual 24-Hour Clinics Operate Across China

Increasing Presence in Major Cities
Open 24 Hours... Trending on Social Media

An unusual clinic dedicated solely to the removal of fish bones has opened at some hospitals' nighttime treatment centers in China, gaining widespread attention.

According to Guangming Daily on September 11, 2026, several hospitals in major Chinese cities—such as Nanjing, Chongqing, Wuhan, and Shanghai—are operating "24-hour fish bone clinics."

Photo to aid understanding of the article. Pexels.

A representative from a hospital in Nanjing stated, "We operate 24 hours a day, and there are quite a few patients who come to us." He added, "Since opening, we have removed fish bones lodged in the throats of tens of thousands of patients."

Chongqing No. 2 People’s Hospital also announced through its WeChat account that a 24-hour year-round fish bone clinic has been established for patients anxious about fish bones stuck in their throats during late-night hours. A hospital representative explained, "Every night, more than 10 patients on average visit the hospital seeking to have a fish bone removed." In addition to these hospitals, other regional hospitals in Wuhan, Anhui, and Shanghai have also introduced 24-hour specialized clinics.

Medical experts warn that even the smallest fish bone can pose a serious risk to the human body if ingested. The media outlet advised, "Home remedies such as drinking vinegar or swallowing rice when a fish bone gets stuck in the throat may actually worsen the situation. It is safest to go directly to the hospital and receive treatment from a specialist."

Signboard of the "Fishbone Clinic" in China. Baidu China.

Meanwhile, on Chinese social networking services (SNS), photos of hospitals displaying the 'Fish Bone Clinic' sign have been shared, spurring responses such as, "A highly specialized treatment tailored to patient needs," and "It’s great that it’s intuitive, especially when ENT services are hard to find at night."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.