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.

Across all regions, WASH services in health care facilities fall short of WHO and national standards. The availability of WASH services, especially in maternity and primary care settings where they are often absent, supports core universal health care aspects of quality, equity and dignity for all people.