In a bid to lift global standards of environmental hygiene and infection prevention, healthcare professionals around the world are gearing up for Clean Hospitals Day, scheduled for October 20, 2025. This event presents an opportunity for low-cost facilities worldwide to become part of the dialogue and action fueling improved healthcare practices. Participants are called upon to nominate a hygiene champion and bring a practical challenge to the newly formed expert working groups. As the saying goes, ‘collaboration beats contamination’.
Clean Hospitals is heading in an exciting new direction, under the guidance of their newly appointed CEO, Alexander Peters, PhD. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, Peters is deeply committed to the cause as she shares her enthusiasm about the workload and support she has been receiving, as reported in an interview with Infection Control Today® (ICT®). The organization in recent times has undergone significant changes – from streamlining its governance structure to extending its reach to healthcare facilities around the globe.
The governing board of Clean Hospitals has been strengthened with experts in healthcare environmental hygiene such as Brett Mitchell, PhD; Stephanie Dancer, PhD; Martin Kiernan, MPH, MClin Res; David J. Weber, MD, MPH; and Pierre Parneix, MD. The organization is determined to make its membership accessible to all, especially hospitals in low and middle-income segments.
Highlighting the financial accessibility of the membership, Peters said, ‘We’re not asking for a high fee’, adding that the annual dues are calculated according to the World Bank income level—ranging from 500 to 25 Swiss francs a year. For facilities struggling to afford the costs, the organization also offers financial support to facilitate their inclusion.
One of the key objectives of Clean Hospitals is fostering an active learning network. This network will conduct events allowing healthcare facilities to engage with experts on environmental hygiene and hand hygiene. It provides a platform for participants to discuss the challenges they face and explore viable solutions tailored to their specific context.
A shift towards stronger partnerships is also noticeable in the agenda of the organization, as Peters insists that isolation is not the answer. She is keen on creating a platform where everyone is informed about each other’s initiatives and can work together towards mutual benefits. New working groups are presently being established to push this agenda further.
The upcoming Clean Hospitals Day themed ‘Human Factors and Collaboration’ aims to raise awareness about health care environmental hygiene and provides toolkits to assist facilities in celebrating and enhancing their practices. The vision of the organization, as encapsulated by Peters, is to lower hindrances, facilitate collaboration across institutions, and maintain focus on the people and practices that guarantee safer healthcare every day, everywhere.