With a new United Nations resolution on water, sanitation, hygiene, electricity, and waste in healthcare facilities, it is time for a logical framing and consistent vocabulary

On December 18, 2023, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted resolution A/78/130, “Sustainable, safe and universal water, sanitation, hygiene, waste, and electricity services in health-care facilities,” which recognizes the importance of these services for the health and safety of patients and healthcare workers and aims to advance progress toward universal access. This resolution is an important advocacy tool for safe healthcare systems and facilities. It advances decades of guidelines and policies from the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and country governments.