Fancang hospitals are temporary hospitals converted from public venues like stadiums in order to provide large scale
medical isolation and health care for patients with mild to moderate symptoms of an infectious disease. Chinese literature has mentioned the concept of "medical Fangcang" as early as 1989. China has constructed fangcang hospitals during the
2008 Sichuan earthquake and
2010 Yushu earthquake.
COVID-19 pandemic In Wuhan, at the onset of the
COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020, general medical institutions and the newly expanded pneumonia specialist hospital were overwhelmed by the sudden surge in
hospital bed demands by suspected COVID-19 cases. Many patients with existing conditions were also turned away, leading to deaths which were otherwise preventable. Authorities were criticized by experts and citizens alike. On the other hand, in-hospital isolation will hold up medical resources and increase the risk of
nosocomial exposure. Under such circumstances, the principle of centralized low-level care management of non-critical patients was adopted. The
Government of the People's Republic of China established 16 fangcang hospitals in Wuhan, providing a total of more than 20,000 beds. As of March 10, 2020, all patients admitted to the square cabin hospital of Wuhan Wushan Hongshan Stadium were discharged. Thus, all 16 fangcang hospitals in Wuhan completed their missions and their cabins were shut down. == Etymology ==