Only Four In Ten Health Facilities Have Basic Sanitation Services Worldwide

Tuesday 18 - 15:05

By: Azzat Manal

Only Four In Ten Health Facilities Have Basic Sanitation Services Worldwide

Access to adequate sanitation remains a major challenge for healthcare facilities around the world. A joint report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF shows that only about four in ten health facilities have basic sanitation services, meaning accessible and functional toilets that meet minimum standards. Meanwhile, around 11% of facilities have no sanitation services at all.

The report, published as part of global monitoring of progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, provides the first worldwide estimates specifically focused on sanitation services in healthcare facilities. The assessment covers data from 70 countries and reveals significant differences between regions.

Sub-Saharan Africa faces some of the greatest challenges, with only 23% of healthcare facilities providing basic sanitation services. Central and Southern Asia performs better, although substantial gaps remain, with approximately 55% of facilities meeting the basic sanitation standard.

Sanitation is only one part of the broader infrastructure needed to provide safe and effective healthcare. The WHO and UNICEF assessment also considers access to water, hygiene services, environmental cleaning and systems for managing healthcare waste.

In 2025, around 85% of the healthcare facilities covered by the available data had access to a basic water supply. Basic hygiene services were available in approximately 72% of facilities, while 71% had systems that met minimum requirements for healthcare waste management.

Although these figures represent progress compared with the situation in 2015, significant shortcomings remain. Around one in ten healthcare facilities still lacks any basic water service, creating serious challenges for infection prevention, patient safety and the overall quality of medical care.

The lack of adequate sanitation and water infrastructure can affect both patients and healthcare workers. Functional toilets, clean water and appropriate waste-management systems are essential for maintaining hygienic environments and reducing the risks associated with healthcare-associated infections.

The situation is particularly concerning in regions where health systems already face limited resources and fragile infrastructure. Improving basic services in these facilities therefore represents an important part of strengthening healthcare systems and reducing inequalities in access to safe medical care.

With the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals deadline approaching, the WHO and UNICEF findings highlight the considerable work still required. Expanding access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities will remain essential to improving patient safety, strengthening health systems and ensuring more equitable access to quality healthcare worldwide.