Following strict hand hygiene is a must in preventing infection, regardless of the use of gloves, the health ministry said on Monday, World Hand Hygiene Day.

The ministry said infections remained one of the most serious public health problems, as they constituted a continuous risk to patient safety and burdened health systems around the globe.

Adhering to hand hygiene regulations by professionals and visitors could significantly reduce the spread of disease, thus improving the quality of care, it added.

According to the World Health Organisation, by 2026 monitoring compliance with hand hygiene regulations and providing feedback should be a fundamental national index in all care providers, the health ministry said.

It added that it actively supported the international initiatives of WHO and intensified its awareness and training actions, thus contributing to the reduction of microbial resistance and securing quality and safe care for all patients.