WASH in health care facilities is essential for quality care – on this there is universal consensus. Many countries are taking action, but more collaborative, focused and expansive effort and investments are needed. This report focuses on global and national efforts and progress to improve water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), cleaning and health care waste management in health care facilities. It builds upon the first update of progress published in 2020. In addition, in response to demands from countries and health actors on providing a consolidated package of information and interventions on climate-resilient and sustainable infrastructure services in health care facilities, data on electricity and examples of electrification are included. It includes a summary of country progress in implementing national actions (“practical steps”) articulated in the 2019 World Health Assembly Resolution on WASH in health care facilities, drawing on data from a “country tracker” and provides insights on successful approaches and challenges from country experiences in improving and sustaining WASH in health care facilities. The main audiences for the report are national health authorities; those engaged in WASH and infection prevention and control (IPC) in health care facilities, including ministries of health, water, infrastructure, energy and financing; global and national WASH and health partners, including donors and health funders; and actors working on climate-resilient and low-carbon health care facilities and health systems.

The Global Framework for Action 2024–2030 for water, sanitation, hygiene, waste and electricity services in all health care facilities (the “Framework”) serves to guide efforts to deliver safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health care waste management and reliable electricity in all health care facilities. The ultimate aim is to provide quality care for all. The Framework reflects a global consultative process and includes data and recommendations articulated in recent WHO/UNICEF global reports on WASH, waste and electricity in health care facilities. It also provides an operational roadmap for implementing the 2023 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on WASH, waste and electricity in health care facilities. The target audiences for this Framework include health leaders and programme managers at the global and national levels; policymakers; WASH, waste and energy leaders and technical experts; development partners and finance institutions; and actors and experts on gender equality, disability and social inclusion and climate; and, more generally, civil society. The Framework deals with the WASH, waste and electricity elements of the WHO comprehensive approach to build safe, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable health care facilities.

This is the 2024 update of the Compendium of WHO and other UN guidance on health and environment. The Compendium is a comprehensive collection of available WHO and other UN guidance for improving health by creating healthier environments. It provides an overview and easy access of more than 500 actions, and a framework for thinking about health and environment interventions. It covers a broad range of areas such as air pollution, water, sanitation and hygiene, climate change, chemicals, radiation, or food systems. Guidance is classified according to principal sectors involved, level of implementation (national, community, health care), the type of instrument (taxes, infrastructure etc.) and the category of evidence. The Compendium compiles existing guidance from hundreds of documents in a simple and systematized format. To ensure the most up-to-date information is provided to the end users, the Compendium is updated on a regular basis and incorporates the latest major WHO or other UN guidance on health and environment. The target audience includes any decision-makers with relevance to health and environment, and those assisting them (such as mayors, staff in ministries, UN country staff etc.). The Compendium has been prepared by WHO in cooperation with UN Environment, UNDP and UNICEF.

The purpose of this report, which was compiled in 2023, is primarily to provide a short description of a range of 2023 campaign activities and to highlight the official WHO engagement results. The aim is to support a learning agenda around the campaign activities to ensure continuous year-on-year success. To achieve this, the report aims to primarily drive internal WHO discussions on what is working, as far as possible, but also to share key takeaways with others involved in campaign activities.

This document, with a focus on the built environment and health care facilities, intends to guide the audience in preparing for and responding to SARI pandemics caused by existing and novel pathogens. It provides technical guidance on designing, establishing, and managing health care facilities for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI), covering point of entry, treatment centers, entry to health system facilities, quarantine and community facilities, and home care and quarantine. Organized into three sections, it covers theoretical foundations, design principles, and implementation examples, including solution for new constructions, buildings repurposing, and temporary tent solutions. The technical representations of this publication are available in high resolution at: https://www.who.int/groups/techne