The “One Health” concept is making waves globally, with India progressively adopting its principles to enhance its response to health crises. Despite its contemporary recognition, the One Health approach isn’t novel. Rooted in the understanding of interconnections between humans, animals, plants, and the environment, it echoes ancient wisdom and modern scientific insights. Hippocrates, in the 5th century BC, emphasized the link between public health and clean environments. Rudolf Virchow, a 19th-century German physician, proclaimed the absence of divisions between animal and human medicines. James Steele and Calvin Schwabe, esteemed veterinarians, further championed ecology’s relevance for both animal and human health.
Intricacies and Importance of One Health
Driven by human population growth, urbanization, and industrialization, harm to biodiversity and ecosystems has exacerbated. This environmental deterioration has been linked to zoonotic diseases that traverse species boundaries. Approximately 60% of emerging human diseases are zoonotic, including bird flu, Ebola, rabies, and Japanese encephalitis. Concurrently, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, vector-borne diseases, and more have emerged as pressing global issues. One Health addresses these complexities by fostering intersectoral management and efficiency.
Resource Optimization and Cross-Sectoral Synergy
One Health’s strength lies in resource optimization across sectors. By encouraging coordination among governmental units, encompassing Ministries of Health, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Environment, and Science and Technology, it paves the way for informed decision-making, shared research, and resilient policies. The economic gains of One Health are evident when compared to the costs of managing a pandemic without its integrated approach. The G20 Joint Finance and Health Taskforce estimates pandemic management costs at around $30 billion annually, while the World Bank suggests One Health integration would cost $10.3 to $11.5 billion.
Recent Initiatives and India’s Pursuit of One Health
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored One Health’s significance. Post-pandemic, interventions aligned with the One Health model have emerged worldwide. India’s strides in this direction gained momentum, as seen through initiatives like the Standing Committee on Zoonoses established in 2006. The Department of Biotechnology launched India’s first One Health consortium, focusing on assessing transboundary animal and zoonotic diseases. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy, along with partners, initiated a One Health pilot project in Karnataka and Uttarakhand, bolstering intersectoral collaborations. India’s forthcoming “National One Health Mission” intends to unite existing initiatives.
The Evolutionary Process of Adopting One Health
Transitioning to a One Health approach involves four key stages:
- Communication: Establishing mechanisms for inter-ministerial communication to ensure stakeholder engagement and progress review.
- Collaboration: Facilitating knowledge exchange among sectors to translate ideas into short-term interventions, clarifying roles in zoonoses management.
- Coordination: Routine and long-term activities requiring national or subnational agency leadership for environmental surveillance, trade monitoring, and awareness campaigns.
- Integration: Transforming vertical government sectors into intersectoral entities through policy frameworks, enabling resource sharing and synergy.
Need for Collaborative Science
To fully realize One Health’s potential, India must transcend short-term collaborations and foster an integrated, science-based environment. Creating platforms that offer not just office space but also laboratories and biological samples to researchers is essential. This collaboration should encompass multiple disciplines and share resources, optimizing research inputs and addressing significant challenges.
UPSC Mains Questions
- Analyze the historical continuity of the One Health concept and its relevance in addressing current global health challenges.
- Assess the economic and strategic benefits of adopting the One Health approach in pandemic preparedness and response, considering both cost savings and enhanced efficacy.
- Critically evaluate India’s recent initiatives in promoting One Health, and discuss their potential impact on intersectoral collaboration and holistic health outcomes.
