WHO Introduces Global Checklist to Boost Infection Control in Healthcare
Geneva, Monday, 25 August 2025.
The WHO’s new IPC and WASH HERO Checklist, launched on 24 August 2025, aims to enhance infection control in healthcare, focusing on operational readiness and response capabilities globally.
Catalyst for Improved Healthcare Standards
The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) HERO Checklist on 24 August 2025. The checklist is a critical tool in WHO’s mission to enhance healthcare standards globally. It serves to improve operational readiness and response capabilities in healthcare settings, ultimately aiming to strengthen global health security by ensuring facilities are better prepared for health emergencies [2][3].
Focus on Readiness and Response
At a recent EPI-WIN webinar, WHO highlighted the IPC and WASH HERO Checklist’s role in operationalizing readiness and response strategies of healthcare facilities worldwide. The checklist is designed to assess and boost infection control measures and WASH capabilities, particularly during health emergencies. By focusing on readiness, the checklist helps facilities address swift changes in public health needs [1][2].
Global Implementation and Impact
The HERO checklist not only sets the stage for improving infection control but also aligns with WHO’s broader goals of enhancing healthcare quality and safety. Reports from countries like Rwanda and Sierra Leone demonstrate the checklist’s impact, showing improved readiness in handling outbreaks like Marburg and Mpox through systematic evaluation and targeted improvements [1]. This showcases the checklist’s potential in significantly lowering infection rates [1].
Collective Benefit and Economic Considerations
Implementing the HERO checklist is an investment that can lead to significant long-term cost savings. By reducing the incidence of healthcare-associated infections, healthcare facilities can lower treatment costs and improve patient outcomes [GPT]. These proactive approaches to healthcare can also lead to more resilient health systems that are capable of withstanding future public health challenges, thus offering economic stability and enhanced population health [1].