A new WHO and UNICEF report has highlighted a significant gap in basic sanitation across healthcare facilities worldwide. In 2025, only 40% of facilities met the criteria for basic sanitation services, while 11% had no sanitation service at all, leaving an estimated 936 million people without access to adequate sanitation during healthcare encounters. The report, which provides the first global estimates for sanitation services in healthcare settings, assessed whether facilities had usable toilets meeting key requirements for patients and staff.

These included dedicated staff facilities, sex-separated toilets with menstrual hygiene provisions, and accessibility for people with limited mobility. The findings varied substantially by region. Basic sanitation services were available in only 23% of healthcare facilities in sub-Saharan Africa, compared with 55% in central and southern Asia.…