21 Aug 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Only 40% of healthcare facilities worldwide met basic sanitation standards in 2025, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. The findings highlight major gaps in access to safe and usable toilets and other essential services in healthcare settings.
11% of Health Facilities Have No Sanitation Services
The report found that around 11% of healthcare facilities globally had no sanitation services at all, affecting an estimated 936 million people.
This means millions of patients, healthcare workers and visitors may be receiving care in facilities without adequate sanitation infrastructure.
What Counts as Basic Sanitation?
The WHO and UNICEF assessment considers a facility to have basic sanitation when it provides usable toilets that meet the needs of patients and staff.
The standard includes at least one toilet designated for staff, at least one sex-separated toilet with menstrual hygiene facilities, and at least one toilet accessible to people with limited mobility.
Major Regional Differences
Sanitation access varies significantly between regions.
Only about 23% of healthcare facilities in sub-Saharan Africa met basic sanitation standards, compared with 55% in central and southern Asia.
The figures show that the problem is particularly severe in regions where healthcare systems already face infrastructure and resource constraints.
Water and Hygiene Services Also Have Gaps
Sanitation is not the only basic service missing from healthcare facilities.
The report estimated that in 2025:
- 85% had basic water services.
- 72% had basic hygiene services.
- 71% had basic healthcare waste-management services.
These services are important for maintaining safe healthcare environments and reducing the spread of infections.
Environmental Cleaning Remains a Major Concern
Only 59% of healthcare facilities met basic environmental-cleaning standards.
These standards require both appropriate cleaning protocols and trained cleaning staff, making them an important part of infection prevention and control.
Around 18% of facilities, serving approximately 1.5 billion people, met neither of the environmental-cleaning requirements assessed in the report.
Poorer Countries Face the Biggest Challenges
The situation is particularly difficult in the world’s least-developed countries.
Only around 24% of facilities in these countries met the basic environmental-cleaning standard, underlining the connection between healthcare quality and the availability of infrastructure, financing and trained personnel.
Why Sanitation in Hospitals Matters
Poor sanitation can increase the risk of infection and make healthcare environments less safe for both patients and workers.
Clean water, functioning toilets, hand-hygiene facilities, proper waste management and effective environmental cleaning are fundamental components of infection prevention and quality healthcare.
A Global Healthcare Infrastructure Challenge
The findings show that expanding access to healthcare alone is not enough.
Healthcare facilities also need the basic infrastructure required to provide care safely. Improving sanitation, water supply, hygiene and waste management could help strengthen infection prevention and improve conditions for patients and healthcare workers.
What Needs to Change?
The report highlights the need for greater investment in basic healthcare infrastructure, particularly in countries and regions with the largest gaps.
Governments and health authorities can focus on improving:
- Safe and accessible toilets.
- Reliable water supplies.
- Hand-hygiene facilities.
- Menstrual hygiene provisions.
- Healthcare waste management.
- Environmental cleaning.
- Training for cleaning and healthcare staff.
- Monitoring of basic facility standards.