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Background Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are human rights as well as important targets of the Sustainable Development Goals and a key component of quality of healthcare. Poor access to safe WASH impacts patients' health as it increases the risk of contracting infectious diseases, mental distress or avoidance of WASH services with additional negative health consequences. Global statistics show that the greatest risk exists in developing countries, while there is little data available from the WHO European Region. Our research aims at gathering an up-to-date overview of WASH data and health consequences on the example of a number of districts from four middle- and high-income countries in the European Region. Methods A mixed-methods analysis was conducted, including literature review, one-shot surveys addressing different types of healthcare services and different socio-economical settings, policy analyses, expert interviews and desk-review of health statistics. Results Preliminary results show that differences and commonalities are observed with respect to the WASH provision and management in healthcare across the considered areas in the region. While basic drinking-water is widely provided, other aspects, such as sanitation, are in need of attention both at the regulatory and implementation level. Also within countries, local differences are observed. Conditions of WASH services in health care are linked with the spread of (resistant) nosocomial infections through many different pathogens with consequences for patients, mothers and children, and for the broader population, influencing morbidity and mortality. Conclusions New insights on the condition of WASH services in healthcare facilities and increasing relevance of WASH-related health outcomes, such as antimicrobial resistance and nosocomial infections, show the need for increased attention to basic services such as sanitation and hygiene in healthcare also in European countries and for locally-targeted interventions. Key messages Water, sanitation and hygiene are a critical component of quality of health care and severely affect staff’s performance and patients’ health, with consequences for the population. Water, sanitation and hygiene need more attention in middle- and high-income countries in the WHO European Region, both at the regulatory and implementation level.

Water, sanitation and hygiene in health facilities and how they affect health in European countries