Overview

Fully functioning water, sanitation, hand hygiene, waste management and environmental cleaning (WASH) services are a crucial aspect of providing safe, quality care, preventing infections, reducing AMR, ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and responding to outbreaks and emergencies.

With huge gaps in current services, WHO, in collaboration with UNICEF and partners around the world, is working to improve WASH in health care facilities, including the safe management of health care waste. Work focuses on supporting countries to implement the 8 Practical Steps, including developing national roadmaps, strengthening regular monitoring and improving services through the use of the Water and Sanitation for Health Facility Improvement Tool (WASH FIT).

Tracking progress

WHO and UNICEF are tracking progress on implementation of the Practical Steps. Global updates have been published in 2020, 2023 and 2025. The WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme also regularly updates global data and publishes reports on WASH and waste services in health care facilities.

Definition of WASH in health care facilities

The term “WASH in health care facilities” refers to the provision of water, sanitation, health care waste management, hygiene and environmental cleaning infrastructure and services across all parts of a facility. “Health care facilities” encompass all formally recognized facilities that provide health care, including primary (health posts and clinics), secondary, and tertiary (district or national hospitals), public and private (including faith-run), and temporary structures designed for emergency contexts (e.g., cholera treatment centers). They may be located in urban or rural areas.